Crewe & Nantwich RUFC 1sts drew an entertaining match 25-25 against highly placed Worcester as the Vagrants side continue to adjust.
It was a fine result considering the number of positional changes forced on them due to injury, but the performance deserved a victory.
Prop Chris Sproston started at loosehead and Ricky Evans moved to tighthead, James Wivell moved from centre to openside flanker, and Tom Roberts switched from wing to outside centre.
Joe Gammage switched to inside centre and wings Eddie Spibey and Adrian Graur came into the team.
Crewe started well and there was little to choose between the teams early on.
Worcester converted an early penalty for offside in front of the posts and Crewe replied with an identical penalty at the other end.
Crewe bagged the first try when scrum-half Charlie Hutchings picked up a loose ball in the Crewe 22 and linked with fly-half Jamie Little.
He off-loaded to Wivell and then Ben Hull who linked with centre Gammage. He raced down the line, sold a dummy and went through the gap to score a great try.
After 30 minutes, Worcester kicked another penalty for offside.
The next 10 minutes was all Crewe as they pressurised the Worcester 22 with phase after phase.
Hooker Eli Woodward went over the line but the referee adjudged the ball not grounded and ruled out the try.
To make matters worse, on 40 minutes a breakout from their own try line led to a Worcester try making the score 11-8 at half time.
Worcester scored a converted try five minutes into the second half as they constructed an attack down the Crewe left.
And they followed this by charging down a kick as Crewe for the Worcester centre to score under the posts for a converted try and a 25-8 lead.
Crewe did not give up and produced a stunning fightback.
Kieran Allsop, now at scrum-half, made a break from the Crewe 22 to just outside the Worcester 22 and off-loaded to full-back Toby Ward who made another 10 metres, setting up a ruck on the right hand side.
A series of phases followed with the forwards working into good positions and a quick ball went to Little who found a gap in the Worcester defence to score a try which he then converted.
Crewe were back in the game and the momentum was with them.
The pressure continued and from a Crewe five-metre line-out won by No 8 Ben Ham, the maul edged towards the Worcester line.
Wivell rolled off the maul with the forwards driving him towards the line to score. A great conversion followed by Little.
Worcester had a short period in the Crewe half after the kick off but were turned over again.
Allsop broke clear, the ball was moved swiftly to Ward who accelerated beating defenders as he passed the halfway line, linking with Gammage and then to Hutchings to score in the left hand corner.
Little’s conversion levelled the scores, with neither side conceding in the final five minutes.
Crewe & Nantwich gained two points for the draw and one point for scoring four tries, Worcester gained two points for the draw leaving them second in the league.
Next week they play away at Altrincham Kersal in the semi final of the Cheshire Vase on Sunday November 1, kick off 2pm.
The 2nds and 3rds continued their good form with wins over Liverpool Collegiate and Linley.
Both Crewe teams now top their respective Leagues and the 4ths drew 24-24 at Altrincham Kersal.
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