The second half of the season kicked off in South London last Saturday when 4th placed ‘Boro visited,2nd placed Dartfordians, with the home side determined to reverse the narrow defeat they suffered in Sussex earlier in the season.
Having regrouped after that defeat, which they could argue went against the run of play, they were determined to put the record straight.
Crowborough, still with the physio table groaning with the weight of injuries sustained in the first half of the season, were also without Dave Bennett, and Mark Rosier for this encounter, but as the game kicked off the rebalanced side showed they were more than ready to take up the challenge.
It was to be Crowborough who started the livelier of the two sides, initially winning possession and kicking for position. When kicks fell short of their intended destination , Jonte Fraser decided to move the ball wide testing the Dartfordian defence which was not to be found wanting.
From a lineout on the left, the ball was moved down the tramlines, and Andy Kidd put in a speculative kick forward which was not fielded , and with Will Pitman following up, like any good winger, he dived on the ball as it crossed the line to score the opener. The kick was sadly missed from out wide. 0-5
A period of play occupied the space between the two 22’s, with strong attacks met with even more robust and uncompromising tackles from both sides, with Rob Lester proving to be a thorough nuisance on several occasions. Andy Orchard and Will Creasey alternately drove forcefully into the Dartfordians pack, although the momentum was stemmed, and the ball killed.
From such an attack the ball was turned over and slung right down the Dartfordian line, with each carrier committing the tackler before off-loading to the fast arriving support, only to be once more strongly halted by the next up defender. However with the overlap developing, a missed tackle created the 2 on 1, and the #11 crossed for the score which was unconverted.5-5
There was little difference between the two sides at the point, and it was to be minor unforced errors that would prove to be the undoing of the visitors. The next Dartfordian attack came as their pacey backs tried to bully their opposite numbers, but were knocked back as ‘Boro closed down the space and forced the home side to recycle the ball. Moving the ball to the left Dartfordians out-thought the ‘Boro defence who were anticipating the ball going right, and in a déjà vu moment saw the #11 cross once again over in the corner for a converted try.12-5
Crowborough were still very much in this game and proceeded to take the game back to their hosts, with Jonte Fraser releasing his backs whom raced into the Dartfordians half. With a try seemingly on the cards, the cut out pass to provide the overlap, was agonisingly intercepted, and with the defence all aligned in attack the Darfordian #12 cruised under the posts unopposed for the converted try.19-5
With half time approaching Crowborough were now becoming anxious as they chased the game, taking the ball into risky contact, rather than keeping to their game plan, with the result of once more having to contest loose ball.
From one such contact, Darfordians came away with the ball down the right side, and with a speculative inside pass, which to many appeared to have gone several feet forward, this cruel converted try was awarded as the whistle went. 24-5 HT
As the second half started, Darfordians conceded a penalty on the ‘Boro 10 metre line which Jonte Fraser placed onto the Dartfordian five metre line, putting ‘Boro in a fine scoring position to reduce the deficit. However it was not to be as the ball was stolen, and cleared back into the ‘Boro half, where ‘Boro set up another attack.
Taking the ball down the centre, the maul released Will Creasey who arced through the Dartfordian defence setting up the ruck, which with several pick and goes saw Creasey latch onto the last pass to crash over, under the posts, to get the Crowborough come back under way. The kick hit the post.24-10
Any fantasy that this was the start of a possible revival was to be short lived as an exceptionally scrappy passage of play finished with Dartfordians crossing over in the right corner for a well converted try 31-10.
To prove that they could score classy as well as scrappy tries, the home side put together ,perhaps the best move of the day , when ‘Boro defending narrowly ,were caught out with expansive passing that put the mercurial winger away to cruise over the line and under the posts for a simple converted try. 38-10
Credit to the visitors in that they just do not accept inevitable defeat, and continued to pressure the home side. From a tap penalty five metres out, the pack tried to drive through the defence, but when held up for the fourth time, Sam Marchesi slipped the ball to the backs with Rob Lester arriving late and at speed managed to get the ball across the line for a Jonte Fraser converted try.38-17
With six minutes left Crowborough still had the opportunity of getting a fourth bonus point try, but in spite of heroic efforts this was not to be and the game came to an end as the rain once more began to fall.
This result keeps both side in the positions they were in before the kick off, and now Crowborough will need to regroup to face Deal and Bettshanger at home, the visitors having had a week off after their game on the coast was called off after the pitch was judged to be waterlogged!