Percy Park made 4 changes to the side that lost away to West last week, with Craig Biggins coming in at hooker, Brett Sylph returning from illness, and Jon Carlile and Thomas Turnbull both returning to the wings.
The visitors started well and were rewarded with the first points of the game as the home side tried to run the ball out of defence. Park had knocked on inside the Crossleyans 22, and referee Richard Whelan called advantage over to the home side just as the ball was spilled in a tackle and Jimmy Baldwin picked up the loose ball. The defenders appeared to stop and the Park scrum half took full advantage and raced to the line to score under the posts. Brett Sylph converted.
Park were playing the more adventurous rugby, and when Liam Casey was penalised for a quick line out which did not go 5 metres, the home side made good the possession and eventually scored from a push over try when it appeared that the Crossleyans hooker had stood up in the scrum. The conversion was missed, but minutes later and a change of kicker Crocs took the lead with a well taken penalty by scrum half Joel Hinchcliffe who was promptly substituted along with the Crossleyans fly half in a bold move by the home side's coach.
In a bizarre decision which baffled both sets of supporters, Park were then penalised for crossing when Liam Casey had made a break through the Old Crossleyans midfield and had the line at his mercy. This was a text book move practised on the training ground and executed by many sides, but was not to the referees liking on the day.
On 25 minutes Percy Park regained the lead with a Brett Sylph penalty, before Romanian stand in fly half Andrew Petre kicked a penalty of his own and Old Crossleyans finished the half 11 - 10. Park had the chance to go ahead early in the second half when Carl Griffiths was pulled down in the line out, but Brett Sylph's penalty attempt went wide.
The Park number 8 was then shortly after sent to the sin bin for playing the ball on the ground and preventing Crossleyans possession. With a man down in the pack Old Crocs capitalised and scored from a catch and drive line out on the Park 5 metre line. Petre was unable to convert.
On Sylph's return to the pitch he was given a chance to reduce the home side lead with a penalty attempt but again the kick was wide. Park did have several chances to score with the best opportunity being when James Walton made a break in midfield, and with Liam Casey and Jon Carlile in support through out a pass which was picked up by a covering defender.
Park pressurised the Crossleyans line for several minutes but could not get over, and eventually the home side cleared the ball and with only minutes to go scored the final points of the game with a push over try with number 8 Stuart Hill getting the touch down.
Next week Park entertain Morpeth at Preston Avenue when the kick off time reverts to the 3pm.