Borough on top from the start and unstoppable today.

Crowborough welcomed League leaders Thanet Wanderers to Steel Cross last Saturday anxious to make amends for their performance against Maidstone on the first day of the season, when their porous defence and uncharacteristic sloppy handling, contributed to a less than ideal start, in what is likely to be the most intense campaign for several seasons, where there will be no easy games.
Crowborough’s training has been focused on eliminating these basic errors and by building upon the undoubted fitness of the squad, develop a quick game, where close support and off-loading would go some way to negate the advantage of a big pack.
Coach Richard Siggs, already having introduced 17 year old winger Harry Sansbury at the end of last season, took the opportunity to give another 17 year old, Ali Main, his first start in the crucial #10 slot having impressed the previous week in the second strings narrow defeat to Burgess Hill 1st.
From the whistle, the lighter Crowborough pack was immediately called into action when the kick-off fell short. With Thanet expected to dominate the tight there was clearly some concern for the visitors when ‘Boro, with the second row power house, of Nick Hill and Mark Bowers providing the platform, first disrupted the drive then stole possession as the scrum began to wheel.
Ed Atkin, back to his imperious best took, the pick up from Sean Derrick and combined with Ali Main who immediately showed a maturity and vision beyond his years with a cut out pass to Andy Walters to get the line moving.
With just five minutes gone, Ed Atkin and Ali Main combined again, with Main linking with Tom Nicoll, before taking the off-load, to pass to Andy Walters with Harry Sansbury on his outside. But before he could release Sansbury, Matt Tyler burst into the line taking the ball to carve a perfect line to score under the posts in what was one of the best tries seen at Steel Cross in many seasons. Matt Tyler then converted his own try 7-0
The game continued to be played at a ferocious pace with the ‘Boro pack getting to the breakdown in numbers and securing possession almost at will. On those occasions when Thanet did string together attacks the previously fragile defence stood resolute, so much so that full back Matt Tyler was able to concentrate on his kicking duties which he did with aplomb, slotting 9 of his 10 attempts many from distance, including seven conversions and two penalties to take his personal tally for the match to 25 points.
The second score came from a speculative Ali Main kick forward,that bounced dangerously close to the Thanet try line. With the full back caught in two minds as to whether he should kick dead or pick up, Harry Sansbury stole in to touch down for the score. 14-0
With Tyler adding two penalties the half came to an end with Thanet in the ascendancy, and with Crowborough down to 14 men after the referee had shown the yellow card to captain Sean Derrick for interfering with play.20-0
Before Sean Derrick had the opportunity to return, Crowborough has effectively ended this match as a contest, with two well taken tries. The first was when Boro switched attack from the left to the right catching the defence wrong footed. Prop and club captain Mark Rosier, lurking on the right, latched onto a Andy Walters pass and with Harry Sansbury outside him deftly drew the defence before releasing Harry Sansbury to score his second. 27-0
The second was from what may have been a questionable forward pass, that saw Tom Nicoll burst through three attempted tackles to finish with a flourish between the sticks. 34-0
With ‘Boro back to full strength, Mitch Malherbe , who had been in the thick of the action all afternoon, at last got on the score sheet when he took a pass at speed from Ed Atkin on the blind side down the tram lines, where he was tap tackled into a forward roll before bounding to his feet all in one motion then continuing over the line to score. 41-0
To their credit Thanet Wanderers never gave up, although the cause was clearly lost, and after one period when they defended their line with some courage Ed Atkin found a gap that had been prepared for him earlier by Ben Martyn to cross the line. 48-0
Finally Harry Sansbury got his hat trick when Chris Yates, showing great pace, was put away by Andy Walters, before handing the try to the young winger. 55-0.
Next Saturday Crowborough welcome Sevenoaks in the RFU Intermediate Cup 1st Round at 2:30pm.
1), Mark Rosier. 2), Rob Horsfall-Turner. 3), Richard Tasker. 4), Nick Hill. 5), Mark Bowers. 6), Gus O’Grady. 7), Tom Carruthers. 8), Sean Derrick (Captain)
9), Ed Atkin. 10), Ali Main. 11), Mitch Malherbe. 12), Tom Nicoll. 13), Andy Walters. 14), Harry Sansbury. 15), Matt Tyler.
The Bench – 16), Damien Hayes. 17), Chris Yates & 18), Ben Martyn all used.