The last time these two sides met was before the formation of the current league structure eons ago.
Now with ‘Boro playing in Level 7 Kent 1 and Eastbourne playing in Level 7 Surrey/Sussex 1, the perennial question of “ are the same league levels truly of an equal standard” was about to be tested.
After 25 minutes with the score at 5-21, following three quick well taken converted tries by the visitors to one unconverted try by Will Pitman, the answer seemed self-evident, with the home side looking on the wrong end of a potential cricket score!
As half time approached, Crowborough pegged back the Eastbourne advantage with a try by Dave Bennet converted by Jared Hermann to give the scoreline some semblance of respect to the home side. 12-21 HT
Following the restart Eastbourne slotted a simple penalty to stretch the lead once more, before the half time talk by the ‘Boro coaching staff kicked in, with a well worked try finished by Adam King and converted by Hermann 17-24.
The ‘Boro backs who, all season have been operating on a different level, had until this moment seemed strangely subdued. With Sam Hamilton having to leave the field with a leg injury, versatile Sam Skinner seamlessly moved into the #9 berth. From a ruck in the centre of the field, Skinner released the back line , and a long pass found Frazer Miller lurking out on the right wing. With an unlikely turn of speed, he rounded his opposite number and cruised unopposed over the line. Hermann’s conversion was aided by the left hand post to level the score at 24-24 .
Often this type of comeback is then countered by a corresponding score from the opposition, but ‘Boro had the initiative and it was ‘Boro who took the lead for the first time with an unconverted try by Harry Marchesi. 29-24.
Crowborough then went close again with an attack down the left ,with a two man overlap being squandered by a mis-directed pass. This gave the visitors another opportunity to go ahead, which they took superbly when their #15 joined the line to take the final pass and score under the posts for a converted try that saw them once more take the lead. 29-31.
The hard ground had taken its toll of injuries, and with 10 minutes added, the game was still in the balance, when Josh Jarvis appeared outside Frazer Miller to take the final pass on the half way line. Stepping to his right he placed a kick down the tramlines. At first the kick seemed too long, but as he entered a foot race with the covering defender the bouncing ball conveniently stood up making the catch and score a mere formality. The kick was pulled.34-31
With the clock showing eight minutes of extra time played, there was still more nervous time for the large crowd to endure, until Harry Marchesi finally cleared the ball into touch, to bring the game to an end, bringing relief for the Crowborough faithful and despair for the large contingent of good humoured and partisan supporters from the coast. 34-31
The question posed at the beginning of this report was well and truly answered, the only regret being that this rivalry will not be repeated in the near future, if at all!