Brods make it a painful afternoon for Crocs

Ginel Lupescu’s face summed up Old Crossleyans’ afternoon at Woodhead today - they got a real bloody nose.
Wath v Brods
 Dominic Georgiou with the ballWath v Brods
 Dominic Georgiou with the ball
Wath v Brods Dominic Georgiou with the ball

Romanian debutant Lupescu looked as if he had run into both of the Klitschco boxing brothers when forced off during a 54-14 hiding at the hands of Old Brodleians in the Yorkshire One opener,

The momentum had appeared to be with the home side going into the first league derby between the fierce across-town rivals for four years.

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And so it proved as Brods, who have strengthened their squad since finishing last season well, eventually cut loose against relegated rivals short on numbers following retirements and departures.

Brods were only 8-0 up when the luckless Lupescu received his “welcome to Britain” message with more than half an hour played.

However, the home men scored a second try just before the interval and then added six more down the slope in the second half to get their season off to a flying start.

Basic errors in near perfect conditions meant only an eighth-minute Phil Town penalty separated the sides after the first quarter.

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Brods clicked into gear with a superb score on 23 minutes, excellent play from returning back rowers Oliver Akroyd and Alex Dawson paving the way for fullback Matty Hoyle to complete a move spanning half the length of the pitch.

Dawson forced his way over for the second, following Phil Town’s clever grubber kick, and Town made it 16-0 with a 45th minute penalty.

Crocs had competed well at the scrum and had some decent spells of possession with the experienced Chris Seymour’s hand on the tiller at stand off.

However, their resistance was swept aside between the 49th and 60th minutes. Liam Scott scored down the short side following a scrum, Samoan debutant Simanu Tusiga sped down the middle only seconds after coming on and Dom Georgiou romped over on the right.

A couple of Town conversions made it 35-0.

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Luke Saltonstall eventually got Crocs on the scoreboard after 65 minutes. Scrum half Chris Vine added the goal and also managed a converted try at the death.

But in between those tries they paid a high price for their mistakes in possession, Georgiou, Hoyle and Pete Dawson all cashing in.