Brods extended their winning streak against Old Crossleyans to seven games and six years, to maintain the leaders spot in North East 2 but only after a brilliantly absorbing contest against their local rivals at a packed and bristling Broomfield.

When Crocs winger James Johnson raced 40m in the 80th minute to give Crocs a 24 – 23 lead it looked like the league points would go to Crocs for the first time since 2018, but some last gasp drama ensured the points went back to Woodhead after one of the best derby contests in recent years between these two proud clubs.

On a glorious afternoon both teams and sets of supporters fell silent before kick off in respect for Crocs club member Alain Philp. Crocs kicked off and were immediately on top, with Alex Bull and Chris Vine prompting some powerful midfield surges. Vine broke left from a midfield scrum and looked to be clear but a superb tap tackle from Ryan Harris prevented a score. Crocs continued to press with their lineout working well and earned the first of many penalties, Johnson converted from 30m. 3 – 0 after 9 minutes.
Brods gained possession and from a scrum, Josh Kelly sent Dunne into midfield, the powerful centre making 30 metres and finding Dom Georgiou who was tackled just short, Hodkinson recycled and with Crocs stretched, Kelly saw the space wide and floated a cross field kick into the hands of winger Ben Barron who touched down in the bottom corner, Kelly converted for a 3 – 7 lead on 12 minutes.

Brods were now on top with strong carries from Seeley and Culf, and on 17 minutes produced a superbly worked try for Georgiou, Harris took a one handed lineout catch, from the ruck Hodkinson saw the space around the corner and found Georgiou, the pacy winger had a lot to do but beat two defenders and powered into the corner, Kelly was wide with the con. 3 – 12. Brods had some dominance in the scrum but the Referee saw otherwise and twice penalised the Woodhead men to relieve pressure on the Crocs.

Georgiou then had work to do in defence with a double tackle after Crocs captain Metcalfe made ground as Crocs responded, Georgiou had to leave the field after a late hit and was replaced by Leo Kemp at fullback. Brods thought they had another try when Barron went down the left touchline but was called back for a foot in touch. The game was turning into a real battle with both sides impressive, Culf was hit hard by Beswick and had to leave the field, Brods new centre Doug Heseltine showed his class with a break and pass to Kemp and when Brods pressed into midfield with carries from Ashton and Murphy, Hodkinson sent the pacy Barron into the corner for his second try and a 3 – 17 lead on 39 minutes.

Crocs responded with some strong forward carries and Brods had to defend well but couldn’t prevent Johnson from making it 9 – 17 with two well taken penalties on 42 and 44 minutes. The game then turned in first half stoppage time when Kemp was tackled into touch in front of the main stand, players from both sides were involved and punches thrown resulting in red cards being shown to both fullbacks, Kemp for Brods and Sutcliffe for Crocs. HT 9 -17

Crocs started the second half well and were the better side as Brods struggled to get hold of any possession, Johnson made it 12 – 17 with another penalty. Crocs forwards were on top with Sembi, Da Silva and Cooper impressive. Brods were desperate in defence, but poor discipline saw first Seeley, on 49 minutes and then Dunne on 50 minutes shown yellow cards leaving Brods down to 12 men and all the momentum with the Broomfield men.

Crocs dominated possession but Brods defended superbly close to their line to win a penalty with Kelly clearing the danger, Crocs went close but a forward pass and some huge defensive work from Barron, Heseltine, Goodall and Harris prevented any scores. Crocs pressed again as Brods desperately defended, Cam Wroot picked from a 5m scrum to relive the pressure, but the defence finally cracked when Crocs put together some superb phases of rugby in the 22’ to send Beswick over to the left of the posts, Johnson converted for a 19 – 17 lead.

Brods were back to 14 as Dunne returned and Ashton replaced Seeley. Hodkinson and Kelly kicked well as Brods finally managed to get some possession and territory. Murphy and Dunne made ground, and Crocs were penalised for a high tackle, Kelly banged over the penalty from 45m to send Brods back in front, 19 - 20 on 68 minutes.
Hodkinson made a brilliant break up the left hand touchline, Hesletine showed real pace, stretching the Crocs defence and a clever kick from Kelly forced a goal line drop out. Crocs drop out went 40m into the hands of Kelly, who sent a brilliant drop goal soaring between the posts to give the Brods a 19 – 23 lead with 5 minutes to play.

A brilliant game then went up another level, both sides desperate for the win, Crocs were awarded a penalty but the usually reliable Johnson dragged his shot to the right of the posts. Brods restarted, and after a series rucks, Vine saw the space and sent Johnson away down the left and into the corner for a brilliant try on 80 minutes. Johnson couldn’t convert from wide out but with a 24 – 23 point lead Broomfield was rocking but the real drama was still to come.

Brods kicked off in added time and Murphy made a crucial turnover to win Brods possession, Dunne carried into midfield and the Brods pack earned a penalty on halfway. Kelly kicked for territory and Brods pack rolled to within 30 metres, the referee awarding a penalty. A point down with time up surely Brods would go for goal to win the game but with a tight angle Brods captain Craven bravely called for a kick to the corner. Kelly put his side to within 5m, Harris took the lineout, and the Brods pack powered the maul forward, Craven diving over the line to send his team back into the lead, Kelly converted for a 24 – 30 lead and when Brods reclaimed the kick off, Hodkinson cleared to touch for full time to spark jubilant celebrations on and off the field.

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