With an emphatic win the previous week, Crowborough could have been expected to build on that momentum with another winning performance, that would define the direction of their season.
As it turned out ‘Boro were once again architects of their own downfall, with a further eight player changes from the previous week, and a total of 20 squad members unavailable for selection, for a myriad of reasons.
It was much to the credit of the coaching team, as well as their generally young and often inexperienced charges, that they not only held their opponents to within 7 points and a bonus point loss, but could and perhaps should have won this contest, tying up the match as early as the first twenty minutes.
Several well directed ‘Boro attacks were well defended, with some desperate but effective last ditch tackles on the line, and indeed, from one such attack a loose pass was intercepted 10 metres out by the Bulls #10, who with the ‘Boro back three committed to the attack, sprinted unchallenged the length of the field to score under the posts for a simple converted try, much against the run of play. 0-7
This score had two immediate effects, firstly giving the visitors the confidence to back themselves and attack out of defence, while ‘Boro pressed even harder to even the score, with the risk of leaving gaps in their final line of defence. Ultimately ‘Boro would rue not taking advantage of all this first half pressure.
In a déjà vu moment another ‘Boro attack broke down, and the ball cleared up-field allowing the Bulls to make one of their rare visits into the ‘Boro 22, and from a well worked maul they again crossed the line to record a second converted try. 0-14
With half time approaching and ‘Boro still unable to break down the Bulls defence, careless alignment again allowed a third score created and finished by their forwards. The half-time scoring finishing at 0-21.
In this typical “game of two halves”, the ‘Boro coaching team led by player coach Dan Moore, who was having a stella game at #9, rallied the team to greater effort typified by a man of the match performance by Andy Orchard. It was much to their collective credit that the Bulls were prevented from crossing the ‘Boro line again, whilst Boro were able to create two well- constructed scores firstly through Callum Main, and finally with ‘Boro now on a roll, a well taken try by Dan Moore that followed a great forward drive over the line which Moore touched down, both being well converted by Gary Stevens from the touchline 14-21, as the referee blew for full time.

It is now hoped that the seemingly unending parade of injuries and un-availabilities will soon be at an end, and that the squad will now be able to unite behind the shirt, competing for places and putting together the results which a full ‘Boro side is more than capable of.
Next week Crowborough are away to high flying Hastings.