Old Alleynians dig-out win !

Match Report By Rick Howe.

Due to the past few weeks poor weather, and the approaching storm Dennis, this match was relocated to Rectory Fields, the original home of Blackheath RFC , which at 162 years old is the oldest Rugby union club in the world. Not only did the switch provide a superb playing surface for the players, but the tiered stand afforded the thirty odd Crowborough Travelling Faithful with a dry comfortable environment, as the storm lashed down on those on the pitch.
In their previous encounter, Crowborough came out comfortable winners, and in spite of several enforced changes to the line up, ‘Boro remained confident of once more coming out on top.
Indeed for the whole eighty minutes, there were excellent individual performances from every one of the men in red, but it was to be the collective responsibility where this match would be eventually lost. With the score finely balanced at 16-14 and eight minutes remaining, ‘Boro were in the ascendancy camped securely in the OA’s 22, and dominating the close encounters.
Earlier in the match, OA’s had taken the lead on 5 minutes when ‘Boro strayed off-side in front of their posts, but ‘Boro responded immediately with a superb try, when the pack sent their opposite numbers sliding back 10 metres into their own half, before Tom West sent a quick pass to Bertie Boast, who dummied, then switched with Tom Boddy, who exploited the gap that appeared to score between the sticks, for an Ollie Clinch converted try 3-7.
On 32 minutes, against the run of play, OA’s forced play into the ‘Boro 22, and as the maul approached the ‘Boro line, the official decided that the maul was illegally brought down and awarded a penalty try 10-7. In recent weeks Crowborough’s discipline has improved markedly, but as the clock ran out on the first 40 minutes ‘Boro with characteristic generosity of old, gave away another kickable penalty. 13-7 HT
Few in the stands felt that ‘Boro would not be able to retrieve the situation in the second half, but when Gus Weir intercepted an OA’s move on the ‘Boro 22, the official could not believe that he was that fast, and concluded that he must have been off-side and awarded another penalty 16-7.
Crowborough were not fazed by this development, and with the weather restricting open flowing rugby, they proceeded to control the game with nine man rugby, taking the ball deep into the OA’s 22. On three occasions the official penalised the OA scrum and on the third reset, and with the line just metres away Ollie Jude-Trailor broke off the back of the scrum to dot the ball over the line for an Ollie Clinch converted try 16-14 and still with nine minutes remaining.
From the restart, Crowborough returned to the OA ‘s half and continued their pick and drives, albeit from too far out to be really effective, with their forays continually being rebuffed. Time and time again, OA’s transgressed with the resulting penalties awarded way ,out on the touchline where the gale force winds were judged to have made the kicks too much of a lottery with the risk of losing valuable ground and possession. Instead ‘Boro once more backed their pack that had dominated most of the exchanges all afternoon.
The more they picked and drove, the more OA’s took confidence from firmly stemming the tide. As the minutes ticked down, and with ‘Boro appearing to lack purpose or the vision necessary to break the dead lock , they continued their unsuccessful pick and drive tactic that were met by a superbly resilient OA defence, which realised that the ball was not going to be shipped wide, and that sooner or later the ball would be mishandled. When it eventually was, on the stroke of eighty minutes, the ball was gleefully cleared into touch bringing the game to an end 16-14 .
This result allowed OA’s to leap frog ‘Boro, into third place with ‘Boro’s losing bonus point keeping them in fourth place although the final placing will depend upon the results of the postponed games involving Hove and Charlton Park. Next week, weather permitting ‘Boro welcome Deal and Betteshanger to Steel Cross.