Match Report by Rick Howe.
Our Referee was Mr Tim Harvey.

Following their win last time out, and the return to the squad of several long term injuries, Crowborough could have been forgiven for being somewhat optimistic in getting a result against fellow league strugglers Folkestone, who had recorded just one win this campaign.
This indeed was a match that Crowborough could and should have won, but this contest was littered with missed opportunities; missed tackles; missed touch kicks, compounded by variable decision making. The five points on offer were strongly contested by both sides, but the fear of making a mistake, meant for conservative play keeping the first quarter scoreless.
Folkestone were first on the score sheet. Putting pressure on the Boro line , they came up against a resolute defensive wall, and after several pick and drives they crossed the line only for the ball to be held up.
From the drop out the gusty wind drifted the ball in-field setting up an attack through the impressive Folkestone back division whom, with excellent support play and deft offloading, aided by poor tackling , carved a gap through the defence to score to the left of the post for a well converted try.7-0.
Crowborough were not fazed by this set back and were soon camped in the Folkestone 22 courtesy of a Kieron Martin cross kick to the astonishingly quick Shaun Streeter who caught the ball on the full before chipping the defence.
From the resulting lineout, the maul was set up, and with the well- rehearsed pack driving to the line, it was Richard Tasker who popped up to score a Kieron Martin converted try.7-7
The game then went into an end to end phase without any further score until Folkestone slotted a penalty with just two minutes of the half remaining. With the referee preparing to bring the half to an end, Boro regained possession at the kick off and from 35 metres out James Hart found Kieron Martin, who, with the press defence cutting out the option of the pass, took the instinctive decision to drop a goal straight between the posts for a 10-10 half time score.
Soon the scoreboard started ticking over again as Folkestone took advantage of some abject positioning and tackling to score a converted try 17-10.
Crowborough had the opportunity from 15 metres out to pull back 3 points but opted for the scrum. Putting on the pressure Folkestone collapsed the scrum for another penalty. The reset scrum ensured that the back row was bound in, and enabled Kieron Martin to find Harry Sansbury on the burst to score under the posts for another converted try. 17-17
Crowborough leaked 3 points for holding on as Folkestone attacked into the final quarter, which only served to galvanise ‘Boro to greater effort. With the pack driving to the line, ‘Stone’s defence held firm. James Hart fed Kieron Martin who slung a huge pass to Tom Boddy on the right wing, who, without breaking his stride evaded his opposite number to cruise over the line and under the posts for a Kieron Martin converted try. 20-24 and just 10 minutes to go.
At this point match management was to be crucial, playing the game deep in their opponents half and denying the home side any meaningful possession, with the aim of getting that all important 4th bonus point try.
Unfortunately this is not quite what happened. A pulled kick to touch was retrieved by ‘Stone’s and run through their backs into the ‘Boro 22. Several times the Boro defence was tested and not found to be wanting, and when it looked as though ‘Stones may opt for just three points ‘Boro ran out of defenders as the wing crossed in the corner. The kick bounced off the bar. 25-24.
With just one point in the game , Boro had moved from gaining four winning points, to one losing bonus point territory in the blink of an eye and with just 5 minutes to go.
There was still time for Boro to reverse this situation, and a fourth try would make the five points a reality once more. Agonisingly that was not to be as a final ‘Stones attack took advantage of lax defensive work, to score 7 more points 32-24, taking Crowborough even out of losing bonus point territory.
With the win now a distant memory, and two losing bonus points still on the cards, Boro drove into the Stones 22, moving the ball inexorably closer to the line.
On three occasions Stones transgressed, a situation in which some officials may have awarded a penalty try, but in it’s absence Boro opted for another scrum, but failing to cross the line, James Hart slung out a fizzing pass which was knocked on, bringing the game to an unsatisfactory end, leaving ‘Boro in 11th place.
The team will naturally be disappointed with this result , but will take some comfort from their positive bits of play, and understand better those areas where they must improve before their next encounter at Ashford next Saturday KO 2:00pm