A tough day for the boys at Steel Cross.......

A summer of hard work by the Steel Cross groundsman and many others delivered a pitch that was the ideal setting for this league opener. Dartfordians certainly took full advantage as within a minute of the start they were seven points up. The kick off was not fielded and the visitors pounced. Some deft foot work and quick thinking saw Dartfordians' Oliver Edwards go over for the try.
The early exchanges indicated the visitors were clearly determined to start off where they finished last season: playing some great attacking rugby and defending strongly. It took some time before the men in red and white got into the game and it was the boot of Chris Yates that got the Crowborough side of the scoreboard on the move after a Dartfordian indiscretion at a ruck.
Just past the quarter of an hour mark the visitors pressure told when a well worked move took them deep into the 'Borough half. Clean ball from the lineout, a quick feed from Danny Taylor at scrum half allowed Edwards to take an excellent angle and power over for his and his team's second try. The conversion took the score to 14 - 7.
Slowly but surely Crowborough started to show glimpses of skill and tenacity the coaches had seen in training with the some good handling, strong running and dynamic support. On 24 minutes the home side reduced the deficit with another well struck penalty. This in turn spurred the visitors back into action and should have extended their lead when what should have been the simplest of passes was sent winging its way into touch with the try line begging and Ashley Hadler on the wing bemused.
Hadler was able to extend the visitors lead after Crowborough, who had the opportunity to run from deep with support at hand, decided to kick out of defence. The counter-attack was decisive and with two 'Borough players lying injured the winger crossed in the corner. The half ended on a contentious note when the referee gave a dubious penalty against the hosts enabling Dartfordians to go in at the break 22 - 6 ahead.
The second half saw a much improved and consistent performance from Crowborough. New boys Bertie Boast and Tom McMahon opening up the visitors defence, Andy Walters making some powerful runs and Chris Yates countering from deep put Dartfordians on the back foot. The visitors defence was resolute and with the home side making silly mistakes at crucial moments the scoreboard remained unchanged.
After a stunning Dartfordians move the length of the field broke down Crowborough were able to claw back another three points as Yates again slotted a penalty. This again motivated the boys in red to move up a gear and an excellent break by McMahon should have ended in a try except for Dartfordians Hadler cynically slowing the ball down at a ruck and taking the sting out of the attack. Hadler was shown yellow but the Steel Cross side couldn't exploit the man advantage during the final few minutes.
With all but two minutes to go Dartfordians sealed the victory with a fine bonus point try wide out taking the final score to 27 - 9. Whilst the 'Borough faithful were disappointed there were positives for coaches Richard Siggs and Dan Moore to build on. The arrival of Bertie Boast and Tom McMahon and a resurgent Andy Walters will help Crowborough into the season, as will the return of several injured forwards. They face a tricky local derby away to Heathfield & Waldron next weekend.
Crowborough: 15 Chris Yates, 14 Tom Boddy, 13 Tom McMahon, 12 Liam Derrick, 11 Mitch Malherbe, 10 Bertie Boast, 9 Ben Searle, 8 Archie Mayo, 7 Andy Walters, 6 Michael Waghorn, 5 Harry Slatter, 4 Ed Higgins, 3 Damien Hayes, 2 Ollie Jude-Trailor, 1 Bertie Cook
The Bench – 16), Andy Orchard, 17), George Bench & 18), Connor Hand.

Our referee was Mr Simon Bingham.
Man of the Match - Andy Walters
Match Report Written by Graham Callard.