The positive performance that ‘Boro have threatened, but frustratingly failed to deliver this season, finally materialised last weekend, ironically in front of the season’s smallest, but appreciative crowd .
Within seconds of the kick-off Park House were awarded, (what must qualify for the quickest penalty of the season), which they failed to capitalise on, and just moments later, in what was to become a helter skelter of a match, Crowborough were returning to the centre having opened their own account with a well taken try set up by a 50 metre break from Gary Stevens, who was brought down short of the line. From the resultant ruck ‘Boro drove over the line with Matt Botterman taking the unconverted score. 5-0
Park House, through their impressive young #9 and #2 put pressure on the ‘Boro backs with some excellent passing and well timed runs but the ‘Boro defence, led by man of the match Callum Main, manned up, repelled the advance and overturned the ball.
Out of defence ‘Boro cleared their line, and were soon on the attack in the Park 22, and from a scrum the ‘Boro pack drove fifteen metres over the line with Damien Hayes claiming the try but the conversion went wide.10-0
Chris Yates put more space between the sides with a simple penalty before Gary Stevens turned a Park House attack into a ‘Boro score, with a well timed but juggled interception on his own 22, and out-stripping the cover defence scoring under the posts for a Chris Yates converted try. 20-0 HT
Soon after the re-start, ‘Boro put this contest to bed with a well worked fourth bonus point try , when from a lineout deep in the park 22, Damien Hayes tapped to Tom West who fed Tom McMahon on the charge. Tom McMahon evaded three tackles before being brought down 5 metres out , but the pack quickly secured the ball and Tom West flipped it to the fast arriving Richard Tasker who crashed over for the unconverted try. 25-0
With Park suffering injuries throughout the match they were reduced to 14 men but not before Will Creasey, on for Damien Hayes, taking a short pass and with a surprising turn of aggressive pace, stormed through three tackles before gratefully crossing the line for the final try that Chris Yates converted to bring the game to an end. The Final Score being 32-0 to Boro’.

This win keeps ‘Boro in 9th place with 23 points, level with their next opponents Folkestone in 8th, one behind Hastings in 7th, two behind Old Williamsonians in 6th, with just 6 points separating 5th placed Lewes and 9th. With such a tight grouping and all sides playing one of the others in that grouping in the next fixture, it is essential that ‘Boro produce a similar performance to this one, whilst avoiding those periods of indecision and hesitation that stems momentum and in this match could have produced two more scores.
After such a positive performance, and with players returning, the normal selection headache over availability, could become a migraine.