This was Crowborough’s third consecutive win showing a renewed belief and burgeoning confidence, under the guidance of head coach Jodi Levett and his team.
There is little to resemble the sides of earlier in the season, with every member of the side committing to the cause. There was little hanging back in the tackle; no holding back from confrontation; and a determination that cut down the central space where Cranbrook, in their previous meeting, had punished ‘Boro with a 34-17 drubbing.
Playing on the front foot, ‘Boro were first on the score board, which was to see so much action that it broke! The try, scored by Andy Kidd came from a long Bertie Boast kick deep into the Cranbrook 22. Crowborough nicked the throw, and in a well-practised drive pushed the visitors over the line for a Ollie Clinch converted try 7-0.
Cranbrook had the opportunity to pull back 3 points but the kick drifted wide, but they soon made amends when, what was to be a rare missed tackle allowed the right wing to cruise into the corner for an unconverted try. 7-5 with 25 minutes of the game gone.
Notably this set back did not faze the home side, who simply set their stall out to widen the gap. This they did following a Bertie Boast’s kick deep into the Cranbrook half. Sam Edwards’s laser perfect throw found Andy Kidd to off-loaded to Will Creasey, and as the shove came on drawing in the back row, it was Ollie Clinch who sniped around the edge to score out wide. The kick was missed. 12-5
The scoreboard kept on ticking over ( as best it could ) with a Ollie Clinch penalty after Tom Boddy was taken out after chipping ahead. This saw Cranbrook reduced to 14 men and the score line at 15-5.
As half time approached, Crowborough put together what would be the best passage of play of the match, moving the ball the length of the pitch with forwards and back all contributing. The move deserved more than the 3 points from a Ollie Clinch penalty but at the turnaround the score was 18-5 much to the bemusement of the visitors and their travelling faithful.
Bertie Boast has spent long periods of the season on the physio bench and his last contribution of the match was to put ‘Boro into another scoring position 10 metres from the Cranbrook line, before he sadly had to leave the field. From the lineout the Edwards/Kidd axis sprang into operation once more, securing ball for Will Creasey to break out and threaten the line. As he was bravely stopped the ruck fed the ball to the back’s, and Ollie Clinch does not need a second invitation as he gladly accepted the try which he also converted. 25-5.
It would seem churlish to mention that ‘Boro then wasted a golden opportunity, when Andy Kidd placed a #8 speculative kick onto the Cranbrook 22, but the winger managed to get a boot to it sending the ball forward which his centre could not resist picking up. The reoccurring dilemma, of 3 points or the seven point option. ‘Boro went for the seven points, but the execution was simply not crisp enough, and a dropped ball and lost scrum saw the opportunity lost.
As is often the case, this gave the visitors some glimmer of hope, and as the Cranbrook backs were given rare freedom to move the ball towards the wing an unnecessary chip that looked as though it was destined for the touch line was miraculously flipped backwards by the winger into the hands of the centre who held on to score and unconverted try out wide. 25-10.
Crowborough’s bonus point try, came from another of those 3 point/7 point decisions, but there was no debate this time. Sam Edwards found Andrew Kidd , the drive came on , worked back to Will Creasey and the rest was history. Ollie Clinch stepped up to convert the try, 32-10.
The clock was approaching the 80 minute mark, but with several injury stoppages there was still time for further action. Adam King was shown yellow for a high tackle, but the penalty was spilled. ‘Boro kicked upfield to relieve the pressure but it landed squarely with the winger, who with a quick show and go evaded five defenders to score a fine individual try wide out left. It was unconverted.32-15.
The last word was to be with Will Creasey who, with 2nd row partner Harry Slatter, had had a great afternoon, and was well rewarded with final try of the day. Ollie Clinch converted again. 39-15.
This result moves Crowborough up a spot into 10th place level on points with Folkestone in 11th courtesy of the game in hand that ‘Boro have. ‘Boro are just 3 points behind Thanet Wanderers in 9th place.
Next weekend sees the bottom four sides matched up in a tantalizing couple of fixtures, Crowborough welcome Folkestone determined to overturn the 32-24 result earlier in the season, whilst an improving Aylesford Bulls side entertain Thanet Wanderers, where the outcomes could define the season of all four !!