Match Report is by Rick Howe.
Our Referee today was Mr Oliver Tyson.
Photo's by Drew Pratt.

As the season enters the last six rounds, Crowborough welcomed 4th placed Charlton Park to Steel Cross on Saturday. Buoyed by their previous weeks narrow last minute defeat, and the return of several long term injuries and enforced absentees ‘Boro entered this contest with a confidence not seen for much of the season.
From the first whistle Crowborough kept play firmly in the Park half, using the quick clean ball provided by the pack, to pressurise the Park defence which remained resolutely solid.
It was 12 minutes before the impasse was broken , when, with the ‘Boro backs steeply aligned , Seb Lewis moved the ball out wide and deep reaching Ollie Clinch almost on the Park 10 metre line. Eyeing the narrowest of gaps, Ollie Clinch cut inside against the cover, and sprinted to touch down between the sticks before converting his own try, in what was to be a fairly quiet afternoon for the outside centre. 7-0
Building on a score is a different dynamic than when chasing a score, something which has been somewhat alien to the ‘Boro 15 this season. But having had a taste the previous week ‘Boro now set about pinning the visitors deep in their own half with a press defence that simply did not allow Park to gain momentum, often disrupting possession behind the gain line.
A long kick by Bertie Boast rolled over the Park line forcing a return dropout that was caught by Alex Purnell. With Mark Rosier and Andy Kidd in support Ollie Clinch came in on the angle only to be poleaxed by a non-arm shoulder charge by the 20 stone prop who was immediately shown a generous yellow card. Ollie Clinch returned to his feet after a short stoppage to slotted the 3 points. 10-0
Crowborough had shown that running the ball was more constructive than aimless kicking, but still too many kicks were employed, giving Park’s two mercurial wingers too much unnecessary possession to attack from. Fortunately, ‘Boro’ s rediscovered line speed generally countered these threats.
From a lineout on the left of the Park 22, ‘Boro moved the ball to the right before a maul formed. With the momentum slowing, Seb Lewis broke free, combining with Rob Lester and Tom Boddy to commit the Park defence. With the touch line getting ever closer, Ollie Clinch arrived to take the offload and scamper over to score in the corner. His kick dropped short bringing the halftime score to 15-0.
From the restart, Crowborough posted an intent to run the ball, and avoid aimless kicking, and it was Josh Radford who firstly came close when the ball was dislodged as he approached within 10 metres of the visitors line.
Seb Lewis was controlling his back division with vision, and when Rob Lester committed two defenders to put Tom Boddy in the clear with just the full back to beat, Tom Boddy chipped ahead and entered a foot race with the Park flanker. As the ball crossed the line both dived to touch down, but the official, unsighted, had no option but to award a 5 metre scrum to the attacking side. Although ‘Boro won the scrum feeding Boast on the right at speed, the defence was well marshalled and the attack stemmed, but judged to have been done so illegally , resulting in a Ollie Clinch penalty 18-0
Attacking pressure led by Lewis, next saw Tom Boddy once more brought down illegally, feeding further the Ollie Clinch penalty count. 21-0
Park were still not giving up, and as ‘Boro renewed their attack with James Hart, Sam Edwards and Tom Boddy inter passing into the Park 22, and with the line seemingly begging for a third try, from nowhere the #11 arrived to smash the attack into touch.
Crowborough need all the points they can get to crawl off the base of the table, and try bonuses are a must. But in their effort to cross the visitors line once more, Park had something to say about that, and moved deep into the Home side’s 22, forcing ‘Boro to concede several penalties to keep the line from being crossed. But ultimately even nefarious deeds could not prevent the score by Terry Reid or an Adam King yellow card. The kick was missed 21-5
Still with tries on their mind, ‘Boro returned to the Park half where an innocuous Park passing move out to the right resulted in the ball being dropped. It firstly bounced backwards, before popping up into the hands of Josh Radford. With just 10 metres to go and the defence in disarray, Josh Radford fed Ollie Clinch who grabbed his hat trick although was unable to add the extra two points. 26-5
The fourth try was the next aim, although it was not to be, and as the clock ran down and with ‘Boro down to 13 men, (Adam King taking a Yellow card) a penalty was gifted to Park on the ‘Boro 22. Crowborough were guilty, for the first time in the afternoon of letting their guard down. One second was all that was needed by the left wing wearing #17 to tap and go, scoring with ease in the left corner for an unconverted try. 26-10
This action brought the contest to an end with Crowborough recording just their third win of the season, but more importantly, leaving the field with renewed confidence and belief, something that will be needed for the remaining five fixtures.
This result still leaves Crowborough in 11th position just one point ahead of Aylesford Bulls ( 10 points ) who recorded their first win of the season over 2nd placed Beccahamians!
In other results Heathfield surprisingly lost at home to Deal by two points, but in results that have a direct impact closer to home, Crowborough’s ( 11 points ) next opponents Thanet Wanderers ( 24 points ) ran out 41-32 winners over Folkestone ( 21 points ).