This was the typical game of two halves, between two of this seasons under-performing sides. Crowborough have continually threatened a convincing win, led by their well drilled pack that has generally avoided the devastating injury toll that has decimated their back division.
It was therefore with some relief, that for the first time this session, the coaching staff were able to select players in the backs, in their correct positions, although it would inevitably take time for them to blend into a confident unit.
The first fifteen minutes of this encounter was a scrappy affair with dropped passes, poor kicking and a litany of knock-ons. Of the two sides Thanet looked the more likely to score as their backs, led by their excellent #13 targeted the ‘Boro line. However a dogged and determined defence prevented the whitewash from being crossed and with the ball being turned over, Kieron Martin was able to clear the danger, before he was shown yellow for killing a ruck.
Crowborough also had their chances, as their forwards drove deep into the TW 22, but white line fever and unfamiliarity with their backs, created indecision, and the attacks came to nought.
With less than 10 minutes played and TW again on the attack, the game had to be halted due to a serious neck injury to a Thanet Wanderers player, ( Kieran Wright #5 ) that saw the medics from both sides administering urgent aid, and in a sign of the times, the summoned ambulance would be delayed for an indeterminate time, eventually arriving at 18:00hrs, when Kieran was then taken to Pembury Hospital. Crowborough RFC would like to extend their best wishes to him and his family and wish him a speedy recovery.
The game resumed after some 15 minutes, and it was ‘Boro who recovered from the stoppage more quickly, clearing the previous danger, and attacked deep into the TW half. Several moves saw more white line fever before Mark Rosier picked up at the base of the ruck, to power over for the first try of the afternoon which Kieron Martin converted. 7-0
With ‘Boro visibly gaining in confidence, from the kick off Kieron Martin placed a delightful cross field kick into the hands of the fast arriving Tom Boddy who made fifty metres before being bundled into touch by the #15. From the line out, Dave Bennett nicked the throw, and with Harry Slatter drove towards the line, with Andy Kidd in support crossing over to claim the try that Keiron Martin cleanly despatched taking the half-time score to 14-0 HT
Crowborough continued into the second half as they finished the first, and as they ploughed into the TW 22, a yellow card was flourished to TW. A quick Ollie Clinch penalty was held up, before the ball was recycled to the backs with an overlap, but when Kieron Martin threw the dummy it looked as though the opportunity was lost, until , like a human wreaking ball he bounced off two attempted tackles before pirouetting over the line to score the try which he then converted. 21-0
Thanet have won two of their eight games this season, showing that they cannot be treated lightly, and within minutes of going further behind they showed their resilience and determination running the ball wide to the right , where a weak attempted tackle created the overlap, and the inevitable try out wide, which went unconverted.21-5
This gave the visitors confidence, and as ‘Boro cleared the ball up-field , it was collected by the full back who linked with his centre pairing, who showed mercurial pace to out-strip the ‘tardy ‘Boro defence, creating a two man overlap to score deep on the left for an unconverted try and just 12 minutes left and an uncomfortable 11 point game. 21-10.
Fortunately Crowborough appeared to learn from this, and with Connor Hand having to leave the pitch, James Hart came in at #9 with all of the backs moving out one position, a luxury unheard off all season. Hart immediately released his backs who for the first time gave the TW back division some real concern as Harry Sansbury burst through, only to be stopped with the line begging. From the scrum Dave Bennett picked up and as the surge came on it was Will Creasey who crossed the line for the bonus point try, again converted by Kieron Martin. 29-10.
With TW visibly tiring and the clock running down, Ollie Clinch rounded off the afternoon with a well taken try under the posts for Kieron Martin to convert keeping his 100% record for the day. 35-10
This result takes ‘Boro off the bottom of the table for the first time this season with a total of 6 points, (having been deducted 5 points for a AWO over 8th placed Deal in Oct) , 3 points ahead of Aylesford, 1 point behind their next opponents Folkestone, and just 3 points behind 9th placed Thanet. Wanderers, all three of whom will be played in the final three fixtures of the season.