On a gloomy, misty and thoroughly miserable afternoon, Crowborough welcomed Aylesford Bulls for their first league match since the turn of the month. With two games in hand over their visitor’s, who are just two positions below in eleventh place, it was essential that ‘Boro took advantage to widen the gap between the sides at this, the wrong end, of the table.
Aylesford have not had the best of starts to this season, but any thoughts that ‘Boro may have entertained of an easy four points, were soon dispelled, when the Bulls pack fronted up to concerted ‘Boro pressure, with a consistently solid defence, particularly in the 9 & 10 channels, before following it up with some vigorous rucking that either overturned possession, or disrupted ‘Boro’s ability to recycle quick ball.
With conditions under foot in the gloopy slippery mud, not too conducive to fast running rugby, it was not surprising that much of the action centred on mid field with only the occasional break out. Early into the second quarter, the Bulls did put together a promising attack , which struck deep into the ‘Boro 22, but some excellent defensive work by Matt Tyler and Matt Eyres caused the ball to spill. Tom Carruthers swooped onto the loose ball setting up a ‘Boro counter attack. With Andy Walters in support, Harry Sansbury joined the line at speed to take the pass making some forty metres before running out of steam, but Tom Nicoll was on hand to see off the desperate last line of defence and score deep in the corner which Matt Tyler converted to take the score to 7-0.
As half time approached, Aylesford were awarded two penalties that Gareth Creswell took to take the half time score to 7-6, but unfortunately not before Gus O’Grady and Tom Carruthers were shown yellow cards to denude the ‘Boro back row off flankers for the start of the second half.7-6 Half Time.
The Bulls used their superiority of numbers in the pack to maintain possession from the kick off, but unnecessarily did so illegally, giving Matt Tyler two opportunities to put distance between the sides, but shanked both attempts to the right of the posts, although it did run down the sin bin clock.
Back to fifteen men, with no damage done ‘Boro attacked down the right with Harry Sansbury coming in from full back to make the extra man, but having committed his man and created the overlap for the unmarked Chris Yates, he then over egged the move and was brought down. The ‘Boro back row arrived in concert, recycled to Ali Main who put in a cross field kick, that in the fast approaching dusk, was contested by several players but it was Matt Eyres who emerged from the gloom to gallop over for the score that Matt Tyler converted. 14-6
The Bulls have clearly been in this position before, and having held ‘Boro for so long to a single point they visibly tired as ‘Boro stepped up a gear. From a quick tap penalty Tom Nicoll rounded two defenders to score in the corner and although the conversion was missed, ‘Boro at last got their off-loading and support play working as they collectively sent Sean Derrick over for their fourth bonus point try converted by Matt Tyler.
Matt Tyler added two more penalties in the dying minutes to take the final score to 32-6 which moves Crowborough into seventh place with a game in hand, which is due to be played against Tunbridge Wells, this Saturday 29th Nov 2:30pm at St Mark’s.

Crowborough 2nd XV went down 43 – 17 away to a rampant Crawley whilst Crowborough’s Mighty Crows 3rd XV drew 0-0 with Ditchling 2nds All Stars XV.

1).Richard Tasker. 2).Ben Martyn. 3).Mark Rosier. 4).Matt Botterman. 5).Mark Bowers. 6). Tom Carruthers. 7).Sean Derrick. 8).Gus O’Grady. 9).Matt Tyler. 10).Ali Main. 11). Matt Eyres. 12).Tom Nicoll. 13).Andy Walters. 14).Chris Yates. 15). Harry Sansbury.
The Bench – All used, 16). Damien Hayes & 17).Nick Hill.