Crowborough, who still have to record their first win of the season, welcomed league leaders Sevenoaks to Steel Cross last Saturday, fresh from their thumping of Hove the previous week, against whom ‘Boro had recorded a late draw two weeks earlier.
With several players returning this week’s side was much changed from that that lost to Old Alleynians the previous week, but it would require more than a change of personnel to keep the score within the realms of respectability against their formidable opponents.
This was to turn out to be an intriguing encounter that was to deviate from the script within minutes of the kick off. The Crowborough pack ignored reputations and tore into their opponents, not only denying them quick clean possession, which their southern hemisphere influenced back division relish, but providing their own quick protected ball to the impressive Ben Searle at #9 who released his backs to keep the ‘Oaks side penned deep in their own half.
For 12 minutes the ‘Boro pack were a handful to contain, both in the set piece and in the loose, and for the non-partisan supporter it would have been difficult to say which side was at which end of the table. Although ‘Boro had the lion’s share of the possession, the ‘Oaks defensive line was outstanding, snuffing out the regular ‘Boro forays.
From a rare bit of set piece possession the ‘Oaks Kiwi #10, with antipodean vision identified the narrow and deep defensive, ‘Boro back line, and cut out the mid field with a long pass. With his wing taking the ball at speed and with their centres providing support, the ‘Boro defensive and cover was found wanting, as the line was crossed and the #10 added two more points.0-7
Chris Yates attempted a 40 metre penalty to narrow the deficit but although it had the legs it drifted to the left of the posts. However ‘Boro were not disheartened and continued to dominate the forward exchanges which frustrated the visitors who were reduced to deploying some of the dark arts including a late tackle, and copious off the ball shirt tugging, to try and negate the ‘Boro forward advantage, all of which seemed to go unnoticed and unpunished.
As the clock ran down to bring the half to an end, and with ‘Oaks unable to gain meaningful set piece possession, ‘Oaks seized on a loose ball from another ‘Boro attack, which the #10 immediately used to set up the counter attack. With the ‘Boro defence all committed to the attack the cover disappeared and another 7 points were recorded against the run of play, that brought the half to an end 0-14.
Even at 0-14 it was clear to the majority of the supporters of both sides that the outcome of this clash was far from certain, as ‘Boro continued to dominate the upfront encounters whilst their backs continued to test the ‘Oaks defence whose tackle count must have been impressive.
For fully thirty minutes ‘Boro were in the accendancy battling for that first score, but the ‘Oaks defence would not succumb. At 14 points down ‘Boro eschewed several penalty attempts at goal, taking quick taps to keep up the momentum in an attempt to get that vital first try, but these attempts were without direction and came to naught.
Perhaps it was inevitable that having absorbed so much pressure, Crowborough would become vulnerable to the counter attack, and from a breakdown on the Sevenoaks goal line the #10 saw that ‘Boro had committed too many players to the attack and were light in defence on the left hand side. With a quick cut out pass the ‘Oaks backs moved the ball wide, with support on both sides of the ball carrier. As the attack moved into the ‘Boro half the #10 came into the line and took the ball to finish off the move he had started, and then converted his own try 0-21.
The final 10 minutes mirrored the previous 30, but ‘Boro were still unable to turn all their possession and pressure into points, and again ‘Boro finished the game pointless. Sevenoaks, on balance deserved the win, but the score line was somewhat flattering, and ‘Boro may take some solace from preventing the visitors from recording a bonus point win for the first time this season.
There are no easy games in this division and with a week off ‘Boro will need to use the time wisely, with high flying neighbours Tunbridge Wells, Crowborough’s next opponents away 24th Oct with and early 13:00 kick off.