A much needed Win, (Away), get's us Back on Track !

The Match report this week is by Rick Howe.

Crowborough were hoping to put their previous week’s drubbings well behind them as they travelled for their third consecutive away fixture to 6th placed Ashford, who had strung some impressive results together in recent weeks.
Although the physio table is still overloaded, this was the time for others to take the opportunity and to reset the direction for the remainder of the season. However even before the kick off a serious warming up injury to Jonte Fraser was far from the ideal way to go about it.
From the first whistle, Ashford took the initiative and drove hard into the ‘Boro pack, determined to get an early score, and only resolute defence by the visitors kept the home side at bay. Ashford slung the ball about with accurate passes that were seized upon by the fast arriving support, dominating territory deep in the ‘Boro half.
From a scrum, the Ashford eight, astonished the ‘boro pack as they drove the visitors back before launching attack after attack that ‘Boro managed to hold up just short of their line before Ashford coughed up the first of what was to be a series of penalties.
Unfortunately the kicking out of hand was to lack direction most of the afternoon, handing hard won possession back to the home side who did not need a second invitation to attack once more. Cruising into the ‘Boro 22, the Ashford off-loading caused ‘Boro’s defence to narrow, and after 10 minutes, the inevitable overlap appeared, which the right wing exploited in the corner for an unconverted try. 5-0
Crowborough knew what was needed, but when they did gain possession they simply could not string the moves together, rifling unnecessary passes that pinged of the receiver for a knock on, when a sympathetic pop pass would have achieved the desired result, compounded by poor decision making and even poorer handling, that appeared symptomatic of a side reeling from recent defeats.
An Ashford penalty was scant reward for the home side, who with five minutes of the half remaining could only show an 8-0 score line for all their first half dominance.
As the final minutes ticked by, with Ashford once more attacking into the ‘Boo 22, Sam Marchesi slipped a pass to Ollie Clinch who broke out of defence and fed Connor Hand up in support. Catching the Ashford defence flat footed, the ‘Boro backs cruised into their opponents half. Now aware of the threat, the defence came across as Hand released Sam Eyers on the right wing, with only his opposite number to beat and space to exploit. However rather than taking him on, he drifted in-field crossing into the Ashford 22, supported by Harry Marchesi and Will Pitman.
Drawing the cover Eyers passed to Marchesi who as he approached the line, launched a speculative and unselfish Hail Mary pass to, Will Pitman on his left, that was metres from its intended target, before it dribbled into touch to bring the half to its end. 8-0 HT
The positive but inconclusive end to the first half appeared to give the ‘Boro side the injection of self-belief that had been missing, and the passes that had been going to ground now started to stick, with the first attack down the left seeing Will Pitman bungled into touch just short of the line. The Ashford throw was stolen, and the Boro pack drove with renewed determination as the line drew nearer, and with the defence back peddling, Will Creasey broke away to crash over for an Ollie Clinch converted try. 8-7
Both sides knew they were in for a close contest, as the game flowed from one end of the pitch to the other, with defences tested to the limit. But the try lines remained in tact. With twenty minutes remaining ‘Boro penned Ashford into their 22. Rather than kicking to relive the pressure, Ashford went for broke, running the ball out of defence, but when the ball was knocked on, Dave Bennett was the first to react as the referee played advantage. As the defence stood like statues, Dave Bennett scooped up the loose ball, slipped the first tackler and won the foot race to score between the posts for an Ollie Clinch converted try. 8-14.
Crowborough were not out of the woods yet, and Ashford once more narrowed the deficit with a long penalty.11-14.
With just three points in it and just minutes left ‘Boro sensibly played deep in the Ashford half, and when the defence transgressed once more Ollie Clinch slotted the three points.11-17.
Ashford has always been a hard place to get a result, and last Saturday proved no exception. This result leaves ‘Boro in fifth place on 59 pts ahead of sixth placed Dover with 41 pts.