Crowborough welcomed fourth placed Dartfordians to Steel Cross on Saturday, where, with dwindling playing resources ‘Boro would attempt to save their injury ravaged season.
Although the headline score indicated another drubbing, the 18 point difference somewhat flattered the visitors as ‘Boro for 72 minutes were still in the game and within bonus point territory.
With more of the academy making their debuts giving them valuable experience, this weeks ‘Boro pack was perhaps the heaviest seen in several seasons and were instrumental in taming the Dartfordian eight throughout the afternoon, driving them back at every opportunity whilst providing secure front-foot ball for their backs to attack with.
Before any scores during the afternoon the injury list kept growing for the home team, this kept Physio, Andy Barker busy all game, within 3 minutes of the start, Boro’ lost its Full Back Connor Hand to a Hamstring injury.
Shortly after Chris Yates got on the score sheet first with a penalty early on, it was the visitors who crossed the line first when two defenders were sucked in, providing a simple overlap for the Dartfordians winger to score out wide for an unconverted try. 3-5
Within ten minutes the lead was doubled when from a line out on the ‘Boro 5 metre line, Crowborough got a hand to the ball but it was deflected into the grasp of the Dartfordians #4 who simply flopped over the line for a converted try. 3-12
Not to be outdone ‘Boro came right back into the game when Chris Yates passed to Gary Stevens who with a quick dummy cruised through the central gap and outstripping the cover scored under to the left the posts for an unconverted try. 8-12.
With confidence growing and half time approaching Chris Yates put in a cross kick to Zeb Kisbee on the right wing, which although over hit was fielded by the winger as Zeb Kisbee stormed in to prevent the counter attack. The winger was pinged for holding on and the resulting penalty was tucked into the corner for the lineout.
Harry Slatter rose to take the throw in, and set up the drive. As the maul wheeled it was Tom Kent who emerged on the peel to drive through the defence and score a well worked forwards try that Chris Yates converted to take the half time score to 15-12.
During the third quarter, a suspicion of blocking seemed to be overlooked as the Dartfordians #10 took advantage of the huge gap that resulted and then streaked past several half-hearted attempted tackles to score under the posts for a simple converted try. 15-19
Crowborough were very much still in the game and could see themselves, if not securing the win, at least gaining an important bonus point, but all hopes of that were dashed in a five minute spell when firstly the Dartfordians centre exploited some ineffectual and sloppy tackling to score a converted try 15-26, followed by an altercation that saw both Gary Stevens and Liam Derrick singled out and sin- binned with less than five minutes of the game left. With just thirteen players on the field it was not too difficult for the visitors to engineer the two man overlap and the final try under the posts to take the final score to 15-33.
With Easter next week it is hoped that some of the walking wounded will be able to return for the next fixture away to Deal & Betteshanger on 2nd April, where a win is imperative.