From the first whistle, and with a collective sigh of relief, the aberration of the previous weeks’ performance was consigned to the “must do better” file, as ‘Boro came straight out of the blocks with focused determination and clinical application.
With the pack solid in the tight and challenging in the lineout, Lloyd-Smith at #9 was able to dictate the play at the back, challenging his forwards to pick and drive and pull in the defence, before feeding Ali Main, whose practised sleight of hand released his backs at will taking the ball both at speed and on the angle to slice through the first line of Thanet defence.
Both Mitch Malherbe and Rob Lester were consistently causing their opposite numbers problems, and as ‘Boro approached the Thanet 22 through a strong run by Ollie Clinch, Ali Main received the ball and once again moved to involve Mitch Malherbe with a miss pass, but with a quick dummy he wrong footed the back row, breezing through the gap for the first score that Ollie Clinch converted 7-0.
With fifteen minutes gone, Bertie Boast placed a long raking kick deep towards the right touchline which was fielded by the fullback but was stopped in his tracks by Rob Lester and Bertie Boast, and as the ruck was set up a Thanet hand strayed where it shouldn’t and the official awarded a penalty in front of the posts. ‘Boro ignored the simple 3 points taking a quick penalty with the forwards protecting the ball at the back of the maul it was Benny Martyn who broke left to dive over the line, although it did not need the VAR to show that the ball was lost in the act of scoring. From the Thanet scrum, ‘Boro put on the shove and turned the ball over with Alex Purnell picking up only to be stopped inches short before Matt Botterman saw the ball over the line, although the kick was pulled wide by Olly Clinch. 12-0
Within minutes of the kick off ‘Boro were guilty of allowing Thanet off the hook, with a series of penalties giving the visitors several scoring opportunities that ‘Boro initially rebutted, before being outflanked in the right corner for the try which was well converted by the Thanet #9. 12-7
The 12 point difference between the sides was immediately restored from the restart, when Ali Main’s kick was caught and returned with interest. With the back three supplemented by Matt Botterman, he took the return and eyeing an undefended channel made 40 metres before being halted, but not before he found Ben Martyn in support who in turn drew the final defender, off-loading to the fast arriving Mitch Malherbe who covered the remaining metres to score under the posts for a Ollie Clinch converted try. 19-7
Unfortunately, just as ‘Boro looked to put daylight between the sides, the spectre of the previous week indiscipline began once more to haunt them, conceding a penalty fifteen metres out. Courageously, and showing an unwarranted confidence, Thanet eschewed the 3 points and put the ball into touch on the 5 metre line. From the throw in, ‘Boro were unable to disrupt the catch, and as the drive came on the score became a formality. The kick was missed.19-12
Next, the Thanet #9 showed ‘Boro that any indiscretion would be punished, with a well struck penalty, but not before the official had had warning words with the ‘Boro captain, putting the home side on notice. 19-15 HT
With the second half, came some of Crowborough’s best rugby for several weeks. Crisp handling, inter-passing and off-loading saw ‘Boro visit the Thanet “red zone” on several occasions, only to be frustrated by their own lack of patience and interpretation of the laws, with which the official disagreed.
A long clearance by Thanet was taken by Bertie Boast, whose positioning all afternoon had been exemplary, and with a measured kick to the corner saw the Thanet right wing collect the ball on the line together with the lighteningly quick Gus Weir, who dumped him to the ground behind the line.
From the scrum Alex Purnell picked up the ball but was stopped two metres out. Attempts by first Matt Botterman, then Tommy Kent and finally Purnell were all thwarted as Purnell was brought down inches from the line, before Matt Botterman poached his second try, which Ali Main converted. 26-15 with 25minutes of the match remaining.
Thanet were still very much in this game, and could have pulled back the deficit with a penalty 22 metres out from the ‘Boro line, but once more, having had success with the catch and drive previously, they ignored the 3 points, but the touch kick went over the dead ball line and ‘Boro had a let off.
That was to be Thanet’s last hurrah as ‘Boro regained the initiative and possession, which they were reluctant to relinquish. Moving down the field through the backs, the forwards picked up the momentum with impressive pick and drives and when it looked as though Thanet had done enough to stem the tide Andy Orchard crashed over for an unconverted try 31-15.
The clock for the final 10 minutes was run down by the forwards who, kept warm in the falling temperatures with constant, but effective drives, that finished with Tom Kent being rewarded for his afternoon’s strenuous efforts with a try converted by the equally impressive Ali Main. 38-15 FT
This performance was just what was needed after the previous weeks’ debacle, although the penalty count, whilst not malicious, was still unacceptably high. This bonus point win puts Crowborough in 4th place with Charlton Park on points difference, but only 10 points ahead of 8th placed Gravesend, before this weeks’ visit to Beccahamians, who are always a handful on their own turf.