Crowborough thanked their sponsors for their unfailing generosity and support, with lunch at the Steel Cross Clubhouse, and suitably wined and dined, the sponsors were royally entertained by the rejuvenated ‘Boro XV who gained their second bonus point victory since the turn of the year.
Annoyed at their inexplicable loss the previous week, Crowborough immediately posted their intentions, with several strong driving mauls that sucked in defenders, but as the line approached, over anxiousness saw the ball dislodged. However, the referee had seen something unto wards, and awarded ‘Boro a penalty that was pulled wide.
Old Alleynian’s soon got the journey out of their legs and pulled themselves together, marching up the field before being awarded a penalty that was put into touch on the 5 metre mark. From the lineout OA’s put on the drive that was initially resisted by the ‘Boro pack but with everyone committed, they failed to spot the secondary peel and drive that got the score board ticking over. The conversion was missed. 0-5.
In previous games, there was often a disconnect between forwards and backs, but in this game the two operated in concert, and with the backs defence on song, the collective confidence was tangible.
A Chris Yates penalty got the first points for ‘Boro, before OA’s missed a similar chance to go further ahead, but they soon made up for it when a speculative OA’s clearance up-field was caught on the 22, and with the counter attack a clear possibility, the injudicious chip was charged down by the OA winger, who clung onto the ball as he jogged the 20 metres to the line for the converted try. With 20 minutes now gone the score was now 3-12.
Crowborough appeared somewhat bemused, having played the better rugby, only to find themselves 9 points down. Continuing to attack, but with OA’s defence determined to hold firm, Ben Searle engineered the ball to the centre of the field some 22 metres out allowing him to set up Chris Yates for a rare drop goal that took the score to 6-12.
With half time approaching, the ‘Boro pack once more drove deep into the OA half. A penalty was kicked by Yates into the OA’s 22, and from the line out Ben Searle whipped out a quick pass to Chris Yates who with a dummy and side step, slid between the defenders to record the try that he also converted. 13-12 Half Time to the Boro’.
Within moments of the restart, ‘Boro were on the OA’s try line, and with a low drive the eight, crossed the line with Andy Orchard coming up with the ball, and Chris Yates once more adding the two points, putting two scores between the teams. 20-12
With the forwards showing patience, building up their attacks, retaining possession and keeping the ball firmly in the OA’s half, Chris Yates was able to add two further penalties to his own personal tally, before the best try of the game was scored out wide on the right.
After a forty metre forward drive along the right touchline Ben Searle released the backs and as Liam Derrick drew his man and fed Tom McMahon it appeared that the move may run out of space as defenders covered across. However, Sam Perry who scored two fine tries against Hove, once more cruised almost un-noticed into the outside berth, taking the pass from Tom McMahon at real pace, and wrong footing the cover crashed over for the decisive score. 31-12 The kick was unfortunately missed.
Many sides would have capitulated at this point, but OA’s don’t know when to stop, and again took the game to the home side. Deep in the ‘Boro 22 with the OA maul moving ever closer to the ‘Boro line, the referee (Richard Hanks who incidentally had a quite outstanding game) saw some front row dark arts being practiced and blew for a penalty try as Mark Rosier took one for the team! And spent his final minutes in the bin. The kick was successful. 31-19 with five minutes left.
Chris Yates added one more penalty before Andy Orchard, (who was Man of the Match, today) rounded off his own and his team’s perfect afternoon with a bonus point try under the posts that Chris Yates converted taking the score to Boro 41- Old Alleynians 19.

With Deal and Betteshanger’s unhelpful defeat of Bromley yesterday, this leaves them 12 points ahead of the Sussex side, but with a stiffer end of season scheduled, it does mean that mathematically ‘Boro are still in a position to be masters of their own destiny, but relegation is still a probability.