This was a rearranged match following the previous weeks flooding of the Crowborough grounds, which, together with the third round of international matches probably accounted for the below average attendance. Those who failed to turn up missed a cracker of a match, and on a day of International upsets Crowborough joined the party with an upset of their own!
Canterbury are top of the table with a 100% win record and arrived with an understandable swagger, ready to sweep away the challenge of the Sussex side, as they have swept away the challenges in all previous 18 matches, with their well tried and tested Plan A.
Crowborough’s Thursday training was focused on combating this Plan A with a rapid line speed closing down the space in which to operate, and to contest the breakdown, with the emphasis on the maxim that “Defences win games “.
From the opening whistle Canterbury proceeded to show why they are top of the league securing the ball in the pack, drawing in the cover and releasing their swift direct running backs. To those watching it looked ominous and a cricket score appeared in the offing.
But Thursdays training held firm, with the defence putting in tackles from minute one to minute 80, with hardly a tackle missed all afternoon. With the mobile back row of Joe Chapman, Dave Bennett and Alex Purnell arriving at the breakdown as it occurred, Canterbury’s attacks were used to set up ‘Boro counter attacks.
Crisp ‘Boro handling and support play put Canterbury on the back foot, as they cruised into the visitors half, where the first of many Canterbury penalties gave Ollie Clinch the opportunity to get ‘Boro on the scoreboard. From 21 metres the ball sailed between the sticks for 3 points 3-0.
Crowborough’s confidence started to grow, as they debunked the Canterbury myth of invincibility, and when it was clear that the visitors did not have a Plan B to counter ‘Boro’s defensive ploy, ‘Boro continued to batter their way into the Canterbury 22.
Ignoring another opportunity to take a simple 3 points ‘Boro squandered a scoring opportunity when the ball was knocked on short of the line. Crowborough continued to contest deep in the Canterbury half and only a lazy pass saw a promising attack fizzle out.
This pressure simply had to tell, and with a Canterbury scrum on 30 metres out, Crowborough piled on the shove, and with the Canterbury eight back peddling putting the #9 under pressure, he flicked an injudicious pass to his #10 who knocked on under close scrutiny from Ollie Clinch, who picked up and broke through. With the cover coming across he passed inside to the supporting Joe Chapman to score to the left of the posts which Ollie Clinch converted 10-0 with 19 minutes gone.
The conventional wisdom, is if given the opportunity to keep the scoreboard ticking over then take it. But having ignored a three pointer earlier, when the same opportunity arrived again after 30 minutes, ‘Boro backed themselves to get more than 3 points and put the ball into touch. From the lineout Dave Bennett soared high and popped the ball down to Sam Marchesi who fed Ollie Clinch on the burst. As Ollie Clinch was held up he managed to free his hands to pass to the straight running Connor Hand who crashed over for the unconverted try. 15-0
Canterbury are not top of the league for nothing and continued with their Plan A and proceeded to attack the ‘Boro 22. But Crowborough were now well aware of the Plan, and even as their line came under pressure, their defence held firm and the line cleared. With the clock running down, Boro won another penalty with Canterbury having already been given a final warning for persistent and cynical infringing the #13 took a yellow card for the team. Again eschewing the three points Crowborough put the ball into touch for the lineout, won by Dave Bennett and taken by Will Creasey who broke right and pirouetted over the line for the unconverted try 20-0 HT
Clearly Canterbury were read the riot act by their coaching staff at half time, as they once more came at the home side determined to “right what they saw as the wrong”. Strong attacks by the two visiting wings were cut down by Harry Marchesi and Will Pitman when the score seemed a forgone conclusion.
From continuous pick and drives Canterbury threatened the ‘Boro line which held firm, and as they eventually crossed the line the ball was deemed to have been held up. In what was a display of petulant entitlement several visitors back-chatted the referee, ( who was having a good game ) who immediately marched then back 10 metres. However Canterbury could not leave it alone and continued to contest the decision as they were marched back a further 10 metres.
With 13 minutes on the clock to go, Canterbury continued to apply pressure on ‘Boro, who were stuck in their own 22 and unable to relieve the pressure with kicks that failed to move the game out of the 22. When Canterbury were awarded a penalty they also ignored the 3 points and put the ball into touch. From the lineout the ball was shifted down the line with the centre crossing the line to score a converted try and allow ‘Boro to regroup at the restart. 20-7
From the kick off, the visitors renewed confidence saw the ball quickly shifted to the left with the #11 having just Will Pitman between himself and the line 40 metres away. However he misjudged the ‘Boro whippet who stood his ground and put the attacker on his strong shoulder and into touch. In doing so he injured himself and had to leave the field to be replaced by Sam Skinner returning from injury. His inclusion saw five backs altering positions, a hopeful indication of their versatility going forward.
At the next scrum ‘Boro bullied the visitors as they were turned 90 degrees before a reset. From the reset ‘Boro won the ball against the head, with Callum Main linking with Connor Hand but prevented from making the break, being tackled from an off side position.
Ollie Clinch put the ball into touch with the home side sniffing a chance of not only a win but a fourth bonus point try. Dave Bennett again soared, and popped the ball to Alex Purnell on the peel, who was agonisingly held up short of the line, but with the pack arriving “en masse” they shoved Alex Purnell over the line for the fourth try that was successfully converted. 27-7
This result does not alter the positions of either side, but shows that the leaders are not invincible, and confirms Crowborough in a solid fifth spot, with three more game s to play, starting with Beccahamians away next week KO 3:00pm.