Back to Winning Ways for Borough

Match Report this week is By the ever present Rick Howe
Photo's by Drew Pratt.
And the Referee was Mr Simon Bingham - from Kent.

When many fixtures were cancelled or abandoned due to water logged pitches last Saturday, Thanet’s chalk based terrain ensured that this match between the 3rd and 11th placed sides would not be one of those to be affected.
This was to be the fourth time in the past twelve months that these two sides had met, with the previous three all going the way of the Sussex side with narrow wins, and in doing so, this match had all the potential to be somewhat of a “banana skin”.
With the wind strengthening, into what would later develop into full gale force mode, ‘Boro elected to play into it in the first half. Thanet, renowned for their big mobile pack, were instantly camped in the ‘Boro half, keeping the ball tight. The Crowborough defence was solid, constantly disrupting the home side’s possession, but could not obtain or control any meaningful ball themselves.
Having got the journey out of their system, Crowborough set about winning possession and moving the point of attack wide through their backs, although the strengthening wind made any expansive gestures a bit of a lottery. At this point George Jones sustained what appeared to be a serious ligament injury and was replaced by the returning Will Creasy after his lay off following injury at Canterbury several weeks ago.
Crowborough continued to move the ball through their backs, although much of it’s obvious predictability would eventually cause the visitors problems, as the home side developed their press defence and dubious line speed to disrupt the ‘Boro attack.
However it was ‘Boro that managed to get on the scoreboard first with a well taken try, following an excellent “show and go” by Jonte Fraser that wrong footed the fast arriving defence enabling him to release Ollie Clinch, who in turn fed Harry Marchesi, to score as he was tackled over the line. The try went unconverted. 0-5

Thanet contested at every opportunity and made several forays into the ‘Boro 22, but the ‘Boro drift defence held firm. After 10 minutes, Thanet were granted a penalty which they put into touch 20 metres from the ‘Boro line. Winning the lineout they put on the drive forcing the ‘Boro defence to align narrowly. Once sucked in it was a simple training ground move, with the right wing joining the line in the middle to fix the central ‘Boro defence. A long miss pass was all that was needed to provide the two man overlap for the wing to pop the ball down in the corner for an ominous, but unconverted score .5-5
A Thanet penalty from 48 metres and with the wind behind fell well short and returned to the halfway line by Harry Marchesi. Thanet brought the ball back to within 10 metres of the ‘Boro line when ‘Boro were pinged for not rolling away. A quick tap saw Thanet drive to the ‘Boro line but excellent defence held the ball up. The restart kick was poor, and the full back drew the initial defence before feeding his right wing, who wrong footed the first up defender then proceeded to dance his way, without a hand being laid on him, up and over the line. The 2 point kick hit the upright, a miss that could have a say in the potential outcome of this match.10-5
With half time approaching, and with ‘Boro anxious to extend the score, “white line” fever seemed to affect the majority of the team, as they battled to cross the line where the defence was amassed, rather than exploit the wide open spaces left vacant as the defence was sucked in. At this point Thanet transgressed giving away several consecutive penalties without the official resorting to brandishing the yellow card, bringing the half to a somewhat unsatisfactory end 10-5 HT
With the second half underway Crowborough were still unable to make the most of the ball they were able to secure, as ‘Boro’s attempts at expansive, if a little prescriptive, rugby ran into the “suspiciously quick” defensive line. A chip; dummy; or oblique running line would have kept the defence honest, but in their absence any meaningful attack became more of a lottery as they were caught man and ball.
With the wind behind, ‘Boro were able to make good ground, when, from a lineout, Dave Bennett fed Jonte Fraser who kicked a 50-22 for a line out 15 metres from the Thanet line.
Winning the ball ‘Boro put on the drive only for it to be illegally disrupted. There followed a series of five more penalties in a repeat of the end of the first half , again without a yellow card sanction. As the Crowborough pack drove the defence back Andy Kidd crossed the line, only for the referee to judge it to be held up. Knowing what needed to be done, moments later ‘Boro were back, threatening the Thanet line with a driving maul. Thanet once more transgressed, and the official, seemingly in the absence of any cards, resorted to awarding ‘Boro a penalty try 10-12.
Fraser once more put ‘Boro on the front foot with another 50-22 kick, and from the lineout Will Creasey drove towards the posts before being held up by the excellent Thanet defence. However the ball was recycled, and Jonte Fraser pulled the ball back out of range of the Thanet backs “quick” line speed, but it still required deft handling by the ‘Boro backs as the drift threatened. But it was Rob Lester’s quick tap pass that held up the cover fractionally as Will Pitman held on, to cross the line for an Ollie Clinch converted try. 10-19
The last ten minutes was very much Thanet’s ,as they could see the game drifting away from them they put pressure on the visitors whose defence was tested but not found to be wanting. With the last play signalled, and a penalty awarded to Thanet, Thanet pragmatically took the three points to get a losing bonus point from this hard fought contest. 13-19 FT.
This result highlights the relative strengths of this division, as Crowborough slip one place to fourth, whilst Thanet incredibly prop up the division from twelfth place.
For their final match of 2023, Crowborough host their fellow Sussex side and neighbours Heathfield and Waldron for our local Derby fixture which Kick’s off at 2:00pm next Saturday.