Despite this Performance, Borough came out on Top !

Match Report By RIck Howe
And Our Referee was Alex Dale.

Crowborough welcomed Dover to Steel Cross for the first time in several seasons. In improbably warm and sunny conditions, the large vociferous crowd lined the pitch anxious to see a repeat of the flowing rugby that produced the previous week’s victory at Deal.
Dover, having secured their first win of the season against Charlton Park, were soon into their stride, taking the game to the home side, and securing an early penalty decision which the #10 slotted to start the score board moving.0-3
It was almost 10 minutes before Crowborough secured any meaningful ball, biding their time, and patiently looking for opportunities, rather than the risking costly penalties. Once the ball was secured, they moved into the Dover 22, but after Ollie Clinch was held up isolated and short of the line, the penalty for holding on enabled Dover to clear their line.
But ‘Boro had posted their attacking intentions, and in order to get onto the board Ollie Clinch levelled the score 3-3. The ‘Boro pack then came into it’s own, and during a three minute sustained period of pressure within 5 metres of the Dover line, Dover gave away 5 penalties, without sanction, as ‘Boros pick and drive was constantly thwarted, and ultimately overturned and the line cleared.
This respite was to be only temporary, as from a scrum on the halfway line on the right touchline, Ollie Clinch picked up at the base of the scum and attacked down the tram lines, shaking off two attempted tackles and rounding the cover coming across to score in the corner. Sadly, his kick fell short of the posts. 8-3.
Still in the first half, the Dover penalty count was exceeding the score line, and with ‘Boro showing uncharacteristic restraint, the miserly number of penalties awarded to Dover meant that they would need to conjure up more conventional ways to score. This they did against the run of play, exploiting a rare gap in the defence to score a well taken try to the left of the posts that was simply converted. 8-10.
At this stage Andy Orchard, who had been making a thorough nuisance of himself had to leave the field with a Knee injury , to be replaced by Sam Edwards who took up his normal #2 roll leaving Alex Purnell to move into the back row.
Eventually the official signalled that he had had enough of Dover’s antics and sent #7 to the Sin Bin. This was followed by a strong ‘Boro drive that crossed the line but judged to have been held up. Several more phases of play saw another Dover infringement, and whilst players milled around considering either a scrum of kick at goal, Ollie Clinch took a quick tap penalty to score by the posts, which he then converted. 15-10 .
Now on a run, ‘Boro crossed over in the corner for the bonus point try scored by Toby Bailey, again converted from out wide 22-10, before Andy Kidd got in on the act with another converted try 29-10. This was to be Ollie Clinch’s last contribution as he was shown yellow and sent to sit out the remainder of the match.
It was left to captain Alex Purnell to finish off Crowborough’s contribution for the afternoon, when from a maul on the Dover 22 , he broke left, evaded the initial cover and sprinted into the corner for a final unconverted try 34-10.
Dover, back to 15 men, soon transgressed again with two more yellow cards reducing them to 13 men. It was then that Dover put together some of their best moves of the afternoon, with a well-controlled series of pick and goes, protecting the ball as they slid over the line for an unconverted try. 34-15.
This takes ‘Boro into 2nd place behind Canterbury 2nd’s. Crowborough now travel to Charlton Park this Saturday 21/10/23 for round six. KO 3:00pm