Crocs overhauled at Wetherby

It was another spirited effort from the next-to-bottom Broomfield men but both sides struggled for fluency and pack power eventually won the day for the hosts.

After 10 minutes of end to end play Crocs drew first blood when centre Lewis Sharp cut through to score under the posts and Gareth Sweeney converted.

Wetherby missed with a penalty but the Broomfield men had charged the kicker and home marksman Alex Dus made no mistake with his retaken effort for 3-7.

Both sides had spells on attack and Crocs lost Phil Shedlbauer to a yellow card but the penalty was missed.

When the prop returned, Crocs passed the ball from side to side. Wetherby defended desperately but eventually visiting No 8 Luke Sturman crossed in the corner.

Sweeney’s conversion attempt was just wide but he gave Crocs a 12-point interval lead with an excellent penalty after scrum half Craig Heppenstall had been high tackled, the offender going to the sin bin.

Dus kicked a 30 metre penalty on 45 minutes and Sweeney was unable to reply from longer range.

There was a lengthy spell of midfield play in which Bodge Sembi made some strong runs for the visitors.

Crocs’ scrum was started to buckle and Dus scored from an inside pass, his easy kick making it 13-15 on the hour.

The crucial score came five minutes later and it was a penalty try, Crocs losing a lineout near their line and then being pushed back at successive scrums. Dus converted.

Jack Hammond, Joe Baker and Sharp made ground as Crocs tried to claw back the deficit and Heppenstall kicked ahead but to no avail.

Hammond and a Wetherby player were yellow carded after a fracas with 10 minutes left.

Crocs pressed at the end but ran out of time and had to settle for a losing bonus point.