Old Cross 16 - 21 Barnsley

Barnsley started 2017 with a battling 21-16 away win at Old Crossleyans. Having led 13-0 after 30 minutes Barnsley fell behind 16-13, only to score a try and a penalty in the last 10 minutes to take the spoils. Crocs had a torrid run following their introduction to the league but have begun to turn things around and were a much tougher prospect than the team that lost heavily at Shaw Lane early in the campaign.

Barnsley opened up a gap but remain in 8th as every game in the league went with position, the higher placed team taking the win. The powerful-looking Barnsley side dominated for most of the first half as they looked to follow up their 47-15 success at Shaw Lane in late September. Crocs did well to force the ball loose from a ruck and with Lawton & Beck both scrambling to keep the attack alive overeager Crocs defenders went off their feet. Up stepped stand-off Aaron Foye to slot an easy penalty for a third minute lead.

Barnsley scored a great try to go further clear, Copley made a jinking break on the right offloading to Beck who got the ball away to Foye under great pressure. Foye, Terrington & Appleyard all made ground before Fisher cut back against the grain and burst through on a 50 metre diagonal run to score and Foye duly converted. Joe Green made stand out hits around the ruck area and wings Exley and Copley were iron every time Crocs tried to spread the play so the Barnsley defence was sound.

Foye produced two great touchfinders under pressure and Colbridge was looking determined to charge all kicks back. A couple of lineouts that went awry meant Barnsley lost great position to add scores and get out of range. Lawton scooped up a ball that came free from the scrum and sprinted 40m but a Barnsley penalty at the ruck snuffed out the chance when he was hauled down.

This haunted them as some ill-advised play let Crocs back in. A chip & chase from Foye on the 22 resulted in a knock on and Crocs won a penalty from the next passage of play that slipped wide. Appleyard then tried a long pass 30m from the Barnsley line to free Copley and the ref judged it forward.

Soon Crocs had seen 10 minutes in the Barnsley half and the pressure told as the Crocs winger popped up in midfield to score beneath the posts. The conversion went over and suddenly the game was in the balance.

Tyler Smith & Tasker produced timely turnovers to relieve pressure but Barnsley failed to play in Crocs half and were lucky another penalty on half time drifted wide to leave them 13-7 up at the break.

The 2nd half started as the first ended, Crocs continued to show more aggression and penalties after 47, 55 and 64 minutes saw them 16-13 up and it was looking bleak for the Shaw lane men. Persistently offside calls went against them and although they felt hard done by they kept pushing and the ref kept pinging. Shaun Cairns and Nick Davies carried well in response and Eaden made a big impact from the bench in typical bombastic fashion. Cheetham also entered the fray and Barnsley began to turn the corner.

A Reed break was well supported and Exley arrived in midfield to make some yards. Copley almost scored after a Foye kick to the corner wasn’t well dealt with and the Barnsley pressure built. Inside the 22 Colbridge joined the line and was tackled high. With penalty advantage Appleyard stepped in to stand off and spread the play for Copley to score in the corner and restore the lead.

Another Copley break from a loose ball took Barnsley back up field and Fisher almost put Exley in close to the line to seal the win. It came back for a penalty and Foye took the lead out to 21-16 when the coaches and bench felt going for the killer try would be better. Time would tell.

Crocs made another break and Colbridge made the tackle. With a scrum inside the 22 Crocs went blind and Copley again stepped up to deliver a crunching 1 on 1 tackle which saw Barnsley turn the ball over. Had he missed it, it would’ve been 7 points and the game to Crocs, fine margins. There was still time for drama, Perrys clearing box kick was charged down and Tasker bravely went for the loose ball and was briefly knocked out in a collision for it. The ball ran off the pitch for a Barnsley line out.

Last play was signalled and Beck had to replace Tasker for the remaining seconds under instruction from the ref. Eaden safely claimed the ball under desperate pressure from Crocs and Perry put it into touch to end the game and deliver 4 welcome points.

Barnsley are to face Sheffield Medics at home on the 14th and hope to record a second victory of the season over the bottom side.