A robust West Hartlepool side were on the front foot for the majority of Saturday's contest at Broomfield and it says much for the determination and defensive qualities of the Crocs that they ran their visitors so close.
The home men somehow manag
ed to turn round with a 16-3 lead, thanks to some sure-footed goalkicking from scrum half Joel Hinchliffe and an interception try from James Wainwright.
However, that advantage was wiped out in the third quarter as the visitors at last made their possession count and it was only in the closing minutes that Crocs mounted any sustained pressure on the visitors' line.
Home player-coach Jonathon Davies, who broke his leg in the opening match of the season but hopes to return to action after Christmas, conceded that his men had found it tough going.
"We were a little fortunate to be where we were at half time.
"We had a lapse in concentration for 10 or 15 minutes in the second half and that cost us. But there was no lack of spirit or effort."
Tony Waite in the number 10 shirt is always a reassuring sight for Crocs fans and he showed the way for the home side with some monster clearances in the first half and as couple of trademark powerful surges with the ball in hand after the break.
Davies also picked out open side flanker Mark Thomas and No 8 Adam Hinchliffe for praise but the downside for Crocs was that they were generally outgunned up front, their lineout deteriorated and there were some alarming tackling lapses out wide.
Three Joel Hinchliffe penalties to one from West Hartlepool stand off Paul Moss left the score at 9-3 after the first quarter.
Crocs survived three spells of intense pressure on their own line in the first half and received a real bonus four minutes before the break when Wainwright made a simple interception as the visitors tried to move the ball on their 22m line.
The winger strolled between the posts and Joel Hinchliffe converted but the impression that the game was far from over in spite of Crocs' 13-point advantage was confirmed straight after the break.
A Moss penalty was followed by a try from scrum half Paul Williamson, who darted over 10 yards to the left of the posts for Moss's kick to reduce the lead to three points.
West Hartlepool hit the front on 58 minutes when Chris Duffy was unable to cling on to fullback Andrew Hare.
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