Match Report by Rick Howe.
Photo's By Denys Clarke.
And our Referee today was the Excellent Mr Steve Matthews.

This game was played as a double header, with the “winner takes all” after both sides had been drawn against each other in both competitions. This was also the opportunity for the visitors to gain revenge for their narrow defeat in the Bob Rogers Competition at the end of last season.
Crowborough took to the field with a yet again altered line up as their injury woes continue. Flying wing Will Pitman was unavailable carrying a strained hamstring, whilst Josh Jarvis’s suspected foot ligament damage was upgraded to a broken bone, and Sam Skinner pulled a fetlock in final Thursday training. This brings the total of long term injuries to ten.
Eastbourne, playing at the same level 7 as Crowborough but in Counties Surrey/Sussex, have strung some impressive results together so far this season, and this would be the acid test as to the relative strengths of the teams and leagues.
Crowborough got off to the best of starts, with a score from Gus Weir in the right corner, which originated from a penalty on the ‘Bourne 10 metre line, which Hermann put into touch on the ‘Bourne 5 metre line. Will Creasey took the lineout and the drive came on, only to be first halted then crabbed across the park , before being halted. With ‘Boro still in control, Jared Hermann slung out a long controlled miss pass to wing Weir who rounded his opposite number to score, well converted by Hermann. 7-0
Any thoughts that this would be the beginning of a stroll in the park, were soon dispelled when Eastbourne immediately responded, moving the ball through the hands of a well drilled back line, that committed the defence, off-loading before contact; with the support arriving on either side of th ball carrier to confuse the defence. Orchestrated by the #10, the excellent #15 picked up the first of what was to be his four tries, well converted by #10. 7-7
The Eastbourne #9 was soon on the scoresheet with a try created by #13 who, with Harlem Globetrotter handling skill, created and then exploited the resultant gap in the centre to free the #9. The kick was missed. 7-19
The next ten minutes was to be the #15 show, who firstly used his pace, and the slow ‘Boro defensive line speed, to glide through the space, untouched for the converted score. Before Crowborough could draw breath the #15 got his hat trick and then a fourth to bring the half time score to 7-38 HT.
In the last competitive encounter between these two side in the Final of the Bob Rogers cup earlier in the year, ‘Boro were behind at half time only to come back and win by the narrowest of margins. Eastbourne’s margin was such that that feat was unlikely to be repeated. As the second half kicked off, first Will Creasey, soon to be followed by Andrew Kidd left the field carrying injuries, with the resultant challenge to the effectiveness of the ‘Boro lineout.
With Sam Edwards, Henry Hicks and Wez Barrett now on and Harry Marchesi restored to his #15 position and Callum Main back into the back row, Crowborough were determined to regather some pride but whether such a margin could be overcome was looking unlikely.
However an attack down the left instigated by Marchesi and supported by Sam Edwards, drove into the ‘Bourne 22, and with Errol Munoz fast arriving to take the off-load to score in the corner for Hermann to superbly convert 14-38.
The scoreboard slowed marginally as the improved ‘Boro line speed prevented the visiting backs from having it all their own way, but Eastboune put to bed any thoughts of a miracle turnaround, with their seventh unconverted try , whilst Josh Rhodes kept the pressure on with another Hermann converted try 21-43 , to give the score line a semblance of competitiveness.
However it was to be ‘Bourne to finish the rout with their eighth try bringing the score to 21-50.
This means that Crowborough can now concentrate on the League and getting their legion of injuries fit, with a fallow weekend coming up.