The story of Saturday’s rearranged game against Deal & Betteshnager actually starts on the Friday morning. The Steel Cross grounds were under water. None of the pitches were playable and tough decisions were about to be made. The club’s Friday Club, undaunted by the task ahead, took to the pitch with forks and sand, and for several hours worked tirelessly on the worst affected areas. Through the cloying Wealden clay the lining marking machine ploughed. By 1pm no more could be done except to hope the bright and breezy weather would hold. The decision was made to take a chance and state ‘the game was on!’.

Saturday arrived and whilst the pitch conditions were far from ideal the pitch was playable. Deal & Betteshanger were riding high in the table, and whilst Crowborough had enjoyed two fine away wins of late this would be challenge. Despite the underfoot conditions Crowborough started brightly moving the ball wide to test the visitors defence early on. It stood firm. Deal & Betteshanger looked lively with ball in hand, their No.10 Oliver Best, and No.8 Anthony Hart orchestrating their attacks. Crowborough’s defence was not to be beaten. The opening ten minutes was combative but not of the highest quality. Too many silly mistakes causing the young match official to be front and centre.

It was Deal & Betteshanger who eventually got the scoreboard moving after a period of concerted effort. Crowborough held the ball up over the line but the game was brought back for a previous infringement. The quick thinking Best worked his magic and went over under the posts. The conversion was added. 0-7.

The score galvanised ‘Borough into action. Passes were now sticking. Dave Bennett and Andy Kidd led from the front and the hosts made good ground. Young Jarrod Hermann put a penalty into the corner. From the resultant line out the ball was slickly moved from right to left across the back line. Each player drawing his opposite number eventually freeing up Will Pitman to go over in the corner. Out of the mud Hermann added the conversion 7-7.

The game ebbed and flowed with the visitors being marginally the better side. That said Crowbrough’s defence was excellent. First up tackling making their mark, and last ditch tackles halting the visitors attacks short of the line. As the game approached half time, Deal & Betteshenager, now down to 14 men following a yellow card, were under pressure. Very ambitiously the guests tried to clear their line from the base of a scrum. The ball went forward causing an offside player to infringe. Without hesitation Kidd tapped and went from the penalty and was under the posts to give ‘Borough the lead. The conversion was added taking the half time score to 14-7.

Crowborough started the second half brightly with a solid set-piece giving the backs room to play. Slick handling and creative angles of running put the visitors under pressure. That pressure resulted in another penalty which Hermann slotted from distance with ease. 17-7. Deal & Betteshanger, now back to their full compliment were soon on the attack. The scoreboard should have been moving in Deal’s favour except the ambitious long pass was dropped by uncharacteristic shoddy handling.

The game became a ‘Curate’s egg’ of a contest in the mud. Some outstanding free flowing rugby defying the conditions, littered with way too many basic mistakes leaving the referee no option but to whistle, whistle, whistle. It was the visitors who did score next following a poor Crowborough decision not to clear their line with a long defensive kick. The situation was made worse with back chat to the referee, Deal now ten meters closer to the line. From a strong attacking position the ball found its way into Hart’s hands and he was over for the score under the posts. 17-14.

Both teams battled hard with defences standing firm. The ferocity of the contest saw players leaving the field injured. With about 15 minutes left on the clock Deal & Betteshanger retook the lead through their No.8 taking the score to 17-19. Almost immediately from the ensuing kick off ‘Borough were in front of the posts with a kick at goal. Hermann again effortlessly slotted the ball through the uprights. 20-19.

As the clock ticked away, despite being marginally the better side, D&B went further behind. As the ball was moved wide, inexplicably the ball was dropped in mid-field. A Crowborough player put boot to ball with Josh Jarvis winning the race to touch down. 27-19 with minutes to go. The visitors had the last word with a well worked try and with ‘Borough now down to 14 men the Deal score was inevitable. Wide out but still converted. Final score 27-26.

Crowborough move into 7th with Gillingham Anchorians next up on March 21st at Steel Cross, k.o. 15:00.

The 2nd XV also triumphed winning 26-48 at Hellingly.