Another Hard Day at the Office

Crowborough travelled to Old Colfeians in their latest League encounter. On a pitch in near perfect condition, despite the driving rain and really strong winds. The home side put pressure on the borough defence early on, without too much success. And the early exchanges would suggest that this would be a tight contest.
After 24 minutes it was Borough who scored the first points of the afternoon, and it came from an Old Colfeians mistake as they attacked into the Borough 22. As the ball was passed quickly through the O.C’s backs Mitch Malherbe made a terrific interception and raced clear with Chris Yates in support. As the defence cover came across Malherbe off-loaded the final pass to Yates, who had about 15 metres to go, to touch down, 5 metres in from the left flank. The afternoon was going to be really difficult for the kicker unless directly in front of the posts, and so it proved with Yates’s conversion drifting to the side of uprights.
The next period of play was all Crowborough threating to score on two or three occasions, and at this point of the contest they seem to have control of the set piece as well. It’s often been the case this season that Borough’s smaller pack having the technic to outperform the opposition’s scrum and today was no exception. The forwards, with Nick Hill and Matt Botterman both carrying the ball well into the heart of the OC’s defence, made excellent ground but that final pass just let them down, with all the pressure coming to naught.
At this point on a rare attack in Borough’s 22, ‘Boro conceded a penalty for not rolling away from the tackle area. The penalty taken by the fly-half was missed but the Referee, wasn’t happy that one of the borough players was waving his arms during the kick, and the fly-half was allowed to take the kick again. Old Colfeians were back in the match, 3 -5, as the half time whistle was blown.
With Head Coach Richard Siggs making a couple of changes, Phil Price replaced Ali Main who had taken a slight knock during the first half. Liam Derrick coming on for Damien Hayes, caused a reshuffle in the pack, with Matt Botterman to the Second row and Sean Derrick to No 8 with Liam moving to the flank.
The second half started much the same as the first half finished with Borough in control of proceedings, and attacking from the yet another set-piece. With Chris Yates chipping the advancing defence, the ball bounced nicely for Phil Price who ran a stunning line, to break the O.C’s defence, off-loading to Harry Sansbury whose 15 metres to sprint, with 3 defenders in pursuit, took the score to 3 – 10 with the kick missed.
With Borough in control they still needed additional points to close out the match, and could not rest on their laurels with only a 7 point margin.
To their credit Old Colfeians had the final say this afternoon, and although behind, never gave up. Taking the game to the visitors OC’s came flying back into the game with a converted try under the posts, after a number of pick and drives. 10-10.
At this point `Captain` Sean Derrick left the pitch due to an injury, and shortly after, following an unfortunate collision between Liam Derrick and Matt Botterman, Derrick followed his brother to the changing room.
OC’s were now in control of proceedings and the pressure was all on the Borough defence. It was the Number 11# winger’s turn to get involved with a great side step around the borough defence, that was up too quick, to score in the corner, the kick was also missed 15 – 10.
At this point the normal strong Borough defence was creaking, not helped by another accidental collision between Ben Searle & Andy Orchard both now with head wounds.
The last few minutes was all OC’s in control and turning the screw with two very quick tries both under the posts, to put the final result beyond Crowborough. And to finish the game, with the Result being 29 – 10 to Old Colefians.
This was a difficult result to except given the first 50 minutes, and although the team have the experience and the support from everyone involved to bounce back, they do need to close out a match when they have the opportunity. Next weekend when they host Horsham RFC at Steel Cross with a 14.30pm Kick-off.

The Team
1), Richard Tasker, 2), Rob Horsfall-Turner. 3), Mark Rosier. 4), Damien Hayes. 5), Nick Hill. 6), Andy Orchard. 7), Sean Derrick. 8), Matt Botterman. 9), Ben Searle, 10), Chris Yates. 11), Mitch Malherbe. 12), Ali Main. 13), Gary Stevens. 14), Tom Burgess, 15), Harry Sansbury. The Bench all used, 16), Liam Derrick. 17), Phil Price & 18, Tom Boddy.