Borough Secure Final Home Win of the Season

Coach Richard Siggs had no selection dilemmas this week, simply fielding the eighteen remaining squad members still standing!
Sixth placed Deal & Betteshanger have had several excellent results in recent months so the home side, still reeling from the previous weeks mauling by Medway, were far from being odds-on favourites.

However the revised line up started the match in confident mood, taking the game to the visitors and getting the first points on the board through a Chris Yates penalty. Keeping the pressure on the ‘Boro pack forced their way deep into the Deal 22, before putting on a strong drive that saw Gus O’Grady cross the line for the try that was converted by Yates as half time approached. 10-0
As has happened all too often before after a score, the ‘Boro concentration levels dropped, allowing a two man overlap to develop with the Deal full back joining the line at speed, and aided by some exceptionally sloppy defending, allowing Martin Robinson the #15 to cruise over the line, and by making it easy for his #10, Conner Moss to convert, taking the half time score to a finely balanced 10-7.
Although the match swung from one end to the other, Crowborough looked the more composed side, putting constant pressure on the Deal defence, but it was the visitors who, against the run of play, took advantage of a momentary lack in concentration, to take the lead with a driving maul, for a converted try.10-14

It was left to Ali Main at fly half, to have the final say in this match with an excellent try that finished off a move that saw the backs release Sean Derrick on the wing. As he cut inside he was brought to ground and from the resulting ruck Ben Delaney sent a quick pass to Main, who with a quick show of the ball, side stepped the cover defence to streak through the gap and score between the sticks for Chris Yates to convert. 17-14.

Mindful of managing the end of the match, ‘Boro kept the ball in the Deal half, and with no further score ‘Boro ran out the winners keeping them in seventh position behind Deal, who courtesy of their losing bonus point, have played one extra game and are now three points ahead of ‘Boro, but crucially with a poorer points difference. With Deal’s final match against a rampant Maidstone, Crowborough’s fixture against Ashford next week takes on added significance for the end of season league positions.

Today’s Team:
1), Richard Tasker, 2), Ben Martyn. 3), Damien Hayes. 4), Harry Slatter. 5), Hill. 6), Gus O’Grady. 7), Nik Pass. 8), Tom Kent. 9), Ben Delaney. 10), Ali Main. 11), Charlie Butler. 12), Michael Waghorn. 13), Chris Yates. 14), Sean Derrick. 15), Harry Sansbury.
The Bench – All Used. 16), Harry Lacey. 17), Andy Orchard & 18) Jim Smith.

The Referee was Mr Andy Smith from Sussex.
Match Report by Rick Howe