Crocs grateful for small mercies

Visiting kicker Liam Hessay missed an easy late penalty to leave the Broomfield men grateful for something they perhaps didn’t deserve after a performance lacking penetration and ideas.

Stand off Hessay had started the Yorkshire One contest with a similar miss, but did give York the lead two minutes later.

Crocs were pinned in their own half for the first quarter but eventually took play to the York 22 where ace marksman Ryan Sweeney made it 3-3.

Kev McGill’s great catch fine run put Crocs on the attack but the chance was lost and Hessay broke away to score and convert on 28 minutes.

The big visiting forwards were making their presence felt and York moved the ball wide to create a two-on-one advantage and left winger Hugh Nicholson scored an unconverted try.

Crocs got back into it two minutes before the break, in spite of losing stand-off Zane Sanders to injury, with a pushover try credited to prop Reuben Pollard after a penalty kick to the corner.

Sweeney converted to make it 10-15 and the gap was down to two points when a slotted a penalty on 44 minutes.

However, Hessay’s boost made it 13-18 on 47 minutes and York added another seven points on the hour when George Davies picked up a loose ball on half way, broke tackles and crossed near the posts.

Crocs’ efforts to get back into the contest were blighted by a lack of co-ordination in attack but they did get back within striking range five minutes form time.

Sweeney put a penalty into touch near the corner and although the lineout throw was too strong, York knocked on.

From the scrum centre Sam Broughton barged over but Sweeney’s kick was just wide.

Crocs were under the cosh for the rest of the match, choosing to try to run the ball out of defence rather than kick. They should have come unstuck but Hessay missed with his late penalty shot.