Crowborough welcomed Beccahamian’s to Steel Cross last Saturday, in what was billed as a “proverbial six pointer”. With both sides on 35 points in 3rd and 5th places, separated only by the difference in points scored, and joined by Bromley in 4th, this weekend’s round 10 was set to provide a reference point to the relative strengths of the sides in the top half of the table.
This week’s selection was much influenced by the injury list following the Canterbury game two weeks ago, as well a seasonal unavailability, meaning that, Will Creasey, Alex Purnell, Tom Boddy, Bertie Boast, Jonte Fraser and Harry Slatter all missed this important run out
Gratefully the biting north wind of previous days had abated, only for a gradually thickening fog to descend upon the Crowborough heights. Keeping warm seemed to be Beccs modus as they set about running everything and putting the home side under pressure.
Crowborough’s strengths this season have been their commitment and decisiveness in the tackle and their lineout prowess, both of which were inexplicably lacking during this contest. This allowed attackers to gain extra metres and the support players to run acute lines, enabling Becc’s to break through the ‘Boro defensive line time and again, only for brave last ditch tackles or poor off-loading by Becc’s, to keep the ‘Boro line from being crossed.
During the first 10 minutes Crowborough had hardly a touch of the ball, such was the control of the Beccs forwards. But this discipline, not to forlornly chase the ball and lose shape, kept the scoreboard at 0-0.
However so much possession without scoring could not last, and when the Beccs #10 put in a speculative kick forward over the ‘Boro backs, it appeared that he had kicked away hard won ball. However as it bounced towards the Boro try line, Harry Marchesi slipped in the act of catching the ball, and spilled it over the line which was touched down by the Becc’s attacker for a converted try.0-7
Ollie Clinch narrowed the deficit with a penalty, and with that Boro started to get their hands on the ball and run from deep. The passing was crisp, if not a little robust, often bouncing off the man rather than into hand, but ground was gained and confidence restored. 3-7
Many sides play tight to the off-side line. Others may encroach a few inches, but on several occasions Beccs took this to a totally new level, often pinching several metres without sanction. One such infringement saw Andy Orchard having to leave the field with an injury after being clattered with a robust body check from the Beccs flanker, who was so far off-side that it was obvious to everyone, and the flanker was lucky to be shown only yellow.
Crowborough continued to attack but still could not get the lineout working in those critical areas of the pitch and good attacking positions went begging. Indeed Beccs added to the Boro misery when, five minutes from half time, they attacked wide on the right, only to be held up short of the line. Illegally so, said the official, who gave a penalty. A quick tap should have been sufficient but ‘Boro once more held them up, but again illegally. A second tap penalty was not going to go un-rewarded and Beccs crossed the line for a well taken converted try. 3-14 HT
The half time talk appeared to have hit it’s mark , as Boro came out ,a different side. The big Beccs pack had been pulled from one side of the park to the other during the first half, and were tiring as half time arrived. This was the time for ‘Boro to up the tempo, and this they did. They surprised the visitors by attacking from within their own 22, controlling the narrative and continued to pull the opposition from one side of the field to the other.
As Crowborough worked their way into the Beccs 22, the referee awarded Boro a penalty 10 metres out. Needing points, and with the line out still a lottery, Richard Tasker called for the scrum. The scrum held firm as Sam Marchesi, moved the ball to Sam Skinner, who then deftly popped a sympathetic pass to Ollie Clinch who cut fro outside to in and crossed the line for the score which he converted. 10-14
Beccahamians regrouped quickly and stretched their lead with a simple penalty 10-17.
In the move of the match, and surely as a reward for tenacity, Crowborough levelled the score. Once more launching the attack from inside their own 22, the ball was swiftly moved from right to left. On the halfway line Will Pitman Hoofed the ball up field towards the posts. At first it looked as though the kick was over hit, but from seemingly nowhere Andy Kidd, with a remarkable turn of speed put pressure on the Beccs full back forcing him into spilling the ball against the post which Kidd gratefully snapped up to score a Ollie Clinch converted try 17-17.
With still 7 minutes to go, it was all to play for. Beccahamians were not finished yet and engineered a penalty attempt which they converted 17-20. Crowborough are learning and managed these final minutes well, keeping the ball in hand and playing deep in the opposition half, but they still needed that final score.
With time running out Ollie Clinch slotted the levelling penalty at 20-20, but there was still a minute for a final bit of drama, when ‘Boro were awarded another penalty on the Beccs 10 metre line. The quandary was , to put the ball into touch and risk losing the lineout and providing a final attacking ball to Beccs, or to go for a long range penalty to win the game, but risk providing Beccs with attacking ball if it fell short.
The second option was taken, the ball fell short, but several players had followed up at speed, preventing the counter attack developing, and moments later the ball flew into touch bringing the game to an end.
This was a hard fought contest, where Beccahamians can rightly feel somewhat aggrieved at not taking their chances better and allowing Boro back into the game, whereas Crowborough can reflect upon a tenacious draw when they were not firing on all eight cylinders, but in knowing where they need to improve and what to address before their trip next week to Thanet Wanderers KO 2:00pm
This result sees ‘Boro back in 3rd place with Beccahamians in 4th and Bromley in 5th