Another Difficult day at the office !

With seven regulars making themselves unavailable for selection this weekend, the already stretched ‘Boro squad, was to be sorely tested.
Old Alleynians have not had the best of starts to the season and were clearly intent on making amends. With a large mobile pack and direct running backs it was hard from the outset to comprehend why they still had to record any points this season.
Crowborough having arrived late, after a mind numbing two hour tour of the South Circular, spent the first quarter with little possession, but certainly got much tackling practise as their defence was put under constant pressure with OA’s determined to get points on the board. Ben Martyn and Tom Kent led the resistance with crunching hits, turning over ball in critical positions, which enabled Matt Tyler, making his first start for over twelve months, to clear the impending danger.
Tom Burgess was the first of several players to spend ten minutes in the bin, which was to see ‘Boro playing practically half the match with 14 players. Whilst he was in the bin, OA’s recorded their first score, although the excellent defensive work made them work hard to get the ball over the line at the fourth time of trying. The kick was successful taking the score to 7-0 after 15 minutes.
As Damien Hayes replaced Tom Burgess in the bin, so OA’s added two more penalties to stretch the lead into double figures.13-0
Shaking the coach journey out of their systems ‘Boro enjoyed the best period of play in the half taking the ball to the opposition but unable to cross the line, and had to settle for a Matt Tyler penalty.13-3
As the sides turned around, Josh Groocock was brought onto the field to partner Matt Botterman, both making their season’s debut, and instantly made an impact at the set pieces, but not before yet another yellow card was flourished.
With much more ball the backs were able to make ground but the decisive break just was not there. From the breakdown OA’s counter attacked and on two occasions should have scored only for poor handling to let them down when crossing the line!
With the match entering the final 15 minutes Crowborough were remarkably, still in this match, and under Nick Hill’s leadership and Ben Martyn’s example, Tom Kent was having an inspired afternoon with his strong runs at the heart of the OA’s defence and committed solid tackling. When passing and off-loading is added to his repertoire, he will surely become an important asset to the side.
What ‘Boro may lack in size, they more than make up for in fitness, which was becoming clearer the more the clock ran down. Having played for much of the game with 14 players the ‘Boro forward unit competed and won more than their fair share of the loose ball, and with the OA’s line under pressure Harry Sansbury burst into the line to cross over under the posts only for the official to agonisingly deny the effort through a forward pass.
This galvanised the, ‘Boro side and with a scrum twenty metres out the ‘Boro eight sent the OA’s pack fully ten metres before astonishingly their front row popped out, scooped the ball backwards, and then turned through 180 degrees, before moving the ball wide all under the close gaze of the official!
Having got the measure of the opposition eight, ‘Boro engineered the ball back into the OA’s 22, and with the next scrum again forcing the home side to back-peddle and give away the penalty, Nick Hill called for a reset scrum with only seconds of play left and a bonus point on offer. Once more the ‘Boro unit got the shove on and as the ball came out Matt Botterman was driven over the line only for the official to declare the ball to be held up, then blew the whistle to end the match.