However, a loose pass and a wind-assisted hack-on saw Morley have to turn from attacking the home line into desperate defence as Crossleyans’ backs charged after the ball.

Marshall was first back to pick up and save a certain try but was bundled over the line and the home men had an attacking five-metre scrum.

The Morley scrum was doing well. The front row, well led by Treco, who has not been seen in Morley colours due to work commitments, with youngster Luke Brocklehurst and Adam Goodwin packing down alongside. The ball was won against the put-in and cleared to touch.

Morley began to make substitutions to ensure coach Peter Seabourne could see all his squad under match conditions. This inevitably lead to a period of disruption as the players had to re-adjust.

Aided by the wind, Crossleyans moved more often into the Morley half. A rare missed tackle on the visiting ‘22 and some half-hearted defending allowed Crossleyans’ flanker Rob Oliver to plough over with scrum-half Cockcroft converting to narrow the score to 15-14.

Back came Morley and with Simon Bradshaw on as scrum-half began to move the ball about.

Youngsters Simon Baker, Paul Turton and Tom Richmond came on and their fresh legs allowed Morley to keep the momentum going.

Crossleyans drifted offside and Simon Bradshaw was called on for his first penalty attempt and a good kick eased Morley away to 18-14.

Morley had a bit of a scare as Crossleyans missed two kickable penalties after 64 and 66 minutes minutes but the Maroons finished the game in control and held out comfortably. The will now visit Pontefract on January 2 in the first round proper.

Old Crossleyans: Baker; Wainwright, Ott, Austin, Seymour; Jowett, Cockroft; N Sembi, Kershaw, Davis, Normanton, Banham, Hinchclif, Oliver, Hammond. Subs: Garnett, R Sembi, Cooper.

Morley: Marshall; Gyasi, K Bradshaw, Murray, Hunt; Newton, Sheldon; Brocklehurst, Treco, Goodwin, Smyth, Brown, Nutbeen, P Dadswell, Green. Subs: Anderson, Yorke, Turton, Richmonnd, S Bradshaw.

Referee: Dean Walker.