This was a club victory, based upon the sterling efforts of the ground staff, and Friday Club volunteers, who provided a pitch capable of hosting this fixture, to the eighteen players, who having not played for almost three weeks, came into this match with an energy and determination, that was sadly lacking in the first half of the season.
Aiming to reverse the lacklustre result of the first fixture in November, Crowborough were immediately faced with a rampant Lewes side who were keen to ask questions of the ‘Boro defence. The attack drove at pace into the heart of the ‘Boro pack, but the defenders led by an unstoppable Callum Main who soon answered those questions with decisive and robust tackles that stopped the Lewes attack in it’s tracks, rocking the Lewes ball carriers back on their heels.
For the first quarter Lewes hardly crossed the halfway line, whilst Crowborough pressured the Lewes defence in their own 22, but failed to cross the line. It was left to Connor Hand, playing in what can best be described as a roaming #15, to pop up in the #12 channel following a scrum on the five metre line, and place a cross field kick in front of flanker Andy Orchard, himself playing in an unfamiliar role at #14 , who with the composure of the practised winger, collected the ball and side stepping his opposite number crossed over to score in the corner. Sam Kisbee’s conversion attempt glanced off the left upright 5-0.
Crowborough piled on the pressure for the rest of the half with the pack dominating the tight, often electing for scrums when penalties were awarded. From one such scrum the pack drove the Lewes eight towards their line before it mysteriously collapsed. From the reset ‘Boro again drove the hapless Lewes pack towards their line where Alex Purnell broke from the back to score out wide. The conversion was just pulled wide. 10-0 HT
The second half opened with a Lewes penalty taking the score to 10-3 leaving the game finely balanced with just a converted try in it. Lewes seemed to find renewed vigour running every bit of possession out wide, but ‘Boro’s unfamiliar back line were soon to prove a match, and tackled everything that moved, as the game moved into a stalemate phase.
With ten minutes of the match remaining, Crowborough, having absorbed everything that Lewes could throw at them, regained the initiative, and only some excellent defensive work on the line, prevented ‘Boro from extending their lead. 10-3 FT
With this weekend ( 17th March ) being the final round of the Six Nations, it seems strange, when all are trying to encourage more participation in the game, that the previous weeks postponed game against Thanet Wanderers, must be played at the same time, rather than re-scheduled for the 31st March free weekend.