They still have the ‘it’ factor

In the last of the summer heat the Crowborough Vintage XV took the short trip to the beach for their first fixture against the welcoming Seaford 2nd XV.

The Vintage XV consists of some of the Borough 2/3 team squad mixed with a few past their prime clubmen, still with memories of their glory days, without the time or commitment or fitness to reach such loft heights. A team out to enjoy a 6 fixture season and potentially a tour!!

With a full side and a replacement on the bench Borough won the toss and elected to kick off. Sadly the ball sailed straight into touch allowing the borough front row of Van Sommeren, Davis and Crouch to engage in the first scrum of the day. The early error from a team thrown together without training, hydration or a game plan suggested it might prove to be a long day but this was not to be the case. From the scrum Borough set about their opposition like a pack of spaniels excited to be let off the leash for the first time in a while. Strong rucking from Faz, Jude-Taylor and Macabe providing clean ball for Mooney to release his backs.

The pacey backline quickly found holes in the Seaford defence who were perhaps struggling for organisation after some quicker phases from the pack. Price at 10 generously fed new signing Cagna in the centres who acceleration and step gave his opposite number plenty of problems finding half breaks, making great yardage and offloading well to his centre partner McDonagh. Champagne rugby was an apt description and tried followed including and irresistible carry from Van Someren after a break by Corbishley from full back, and half pitch break from Voss showing a strong fend and acceleration, and some good finished from team interplay including a try for Botterman. With Burgess coming off his win to slot at least some of the conversions Borough quickly found themselves 25 points up and were quite enjoying their sunny day at the seaside.

Perhaps however they were enjoying it a little too much. The intensity began to drop with some lazy support play and Seaford were more than happy to show what they could do. Competing hard at the breakdown with a strong pack aided by "Seaford Faz" and a confident 9, Seaford began to win ball and penalties and released their backs who proved very competent ball in hand and made good ground against the Borough defence. With discipline still a little weak and a lineout misfiring Seaford ran a clever lineout play and crashed over in the corner for a well deserved try. This stung Borough back into action and sticking to their tasks worked their way back into the game with more points coming. Half time came round and Borough were 41-5 up and knew if they continued to compete the there would me more points to follow.

From the restart however, Seaford’s team talk had done its job and Seaford flew into the Borough with strong tackling putting pressure on a disjointed Borough who coughed up penalties and tries. Seaford were now winning the half and had some belief. With their 10 kicking well and winning territory pinning the Borough team back. Slowly Borough got back some control with Price and his backline getting their shape back and the pack working hard to win them ball. Seaford scored some good and well worked trys in this period with Boroughs disipline not being quite good enough.

On another day, with a slightly different spirit and perhaps a ref was wasn't a seaford coach and therefore trying not to be controversial, a card might have been shown. However it was not and Borough eventually got hand on the ball with Crouchy making a break,feeding the ball to Faz for a popular try and then attempting to make a final pass to a teammate with a begging try-line only to see the pass cruelly slapped down leading to a penalty try.

The game finished with a second try for Botterman from the back of the uncontested scrum 10 yards out.

Final Score 58 - 24 but a game played in good spirit with smiles and banter all round. The vintage Borough now roll on to their next fixture on October 21st with some wind in their sails, a little more shape and the potential for one or both of their Co-Captains to return and lead them to further glory!!