Crowborough controlled this match for most of the 80 minutes, but were unable to put sufficient daylight between the sides to record the convincing victory that their domination should have delivered. Only two missed penalties by the visitors prevented the draw which would have done damage to both sides’ chances of finishing in the top half of the table.
With ‘Boro’s discipline showing marked improvement in recent weeks it was a stray hand that gifted Deal & Betteshanger three points within five minutes before Ollie Clinch levelled the score moments later.3-3
Crowborough should have gone ahead when forwards and backs at last linked up, with Ali Main opening up a gap for Matt Eyres to exploit, only for the latter to be hauled down five metres short of the line before the ball was cleared into touch. Several more forays into the red zone came to nought, as the pick and drives failed once more to deliver points, as the opposition’s defence proved more resilient, than the home sides determination and tactical execution.
It was left to Ollie Clinch to retrieve just three points for all their efforts, as the whistle brought an uninspiring half to an end. 6-3 HT
Deal started the half with a missed penalty, before engineering an excellent score, when the Scrum Half , (Kim Frost) finished of a backs move, that left two defenders grasping at thin air, when their fast arrival exposed their weaker inside shoulders. The kick was successful 6-10
This was the wake-up call that ‘Boro needed. Ben Martyn took a quick tap penalty on his own 10 metre line that started a full team move that moments later, culminated in Rob Lester crossing over in the corner to edge ‘Boro into the lead, 11-10. The kick by Ollie Clinch was pulled.
The Deal 10, (Connor Moss) once more missed a sitter of a penalty, before Rob Lester got his second try of the afternoon, proving to the home side, that when played as a fifteen man game, the results will follow.16-10 FT
Next week Crowborough in 5th place on 53 points, travel to Charlton Park in 4th place, also on 53 points but with a game in hand, with the outcome important for both their seasons with just five games remaining.