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Crigg continued their fine form with a hard-fought victory in the mud against St Josephs to cement their place in second spot in the table.
Once again Crigg failed to deal with the kick-off, and began the game on the back foot from a knock-on. Good defence held the first Joes attack out, but when Crigg knocked on again, bringing the ball out of their own 20m zone, there was to be no second chance, as Joes scored from the scrum, too far out for the conversion.
Crigg kicked deep from the restart and the chasing pack harried the Joes defence, keeping them penned it, with the result that the Joeys clearing kick only went as far as half-way. Three drives got Crigg back to the Joes 10m line where a high tackle brought a penalty. Crigg turned down the two points and instead slipped the ball out wide to Ryan Horsley who drove over for the try. Tom Malyan slotted the kick over and the home side were ahead.
Joes were next to score, when a little chip over the top, caught Crigg flat-footed. It was St Joes backs who reacted to the play quickest and put boot to ball again to dribble the ball under the sticks for the try. No mistake this time with the goal and Joes were ahead.
Crigg were now on the back foot as Joes built some pressure and eventually the defence cracked again. The Crigg defence failed to deal with a grubber kick to the corner, and Joes gratefully scooped up the loose ball to score out wide. The conversion attempt failed.
It was Crigg next to score. The exciting Nick Ementon raced through a gap and sucked in three players. His quick play the ball created a gap, and man of the match Tom Andrews picked up the ball and powered his way over the line. Malyan kicked the goal and Crigg were back to just two behind at the break.
The second half was tight from the off, as neither side gave an inch in the muddy conditions. The deadlock was finally broken when a monster hit from Danny Lockwood forced the ball free. Lockwood pounced on the loose ball and Crigg passed it wide. Martin Brooks hit the Joes line, slipped the ball inside to the supporting Lockwood who dived over and Crigg were ahead again. Malyan did well to get any kind of kick in, with the muddy conditions, but his goal attempt just sailed wide.
There was no final score in the last half an hour, as both sides stood toe to toe, and denied the opposition space. It was a day for tough work from the forwards with Dale Tilford and Will Field both stand-outs for Crigg in taking the ball in time and again, as Crigg held on for the victory.
Crigg's Men of the Match were 1 - Tom Andrews, sponsored by English Country Services, 2 - Ryan Horsley, sponsored by the Golden Girls and 3 - Will Field.
Next match * Saturday 17 February * Westgate (away)
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