Becc's come out on top , JUST !!!

This weeks Match Report is by Rick Howe.
Sadly no Photo's
And the was Les Todd from the London Referee's Fed.

Crowborough travelled to South London last Saturday with renewed confidence following their victory the previous week against Canterbury. However that victory came at the cost of three more casualties to add to the already crowded physio table, resulting in another revised selection.
To the Travelling Faithful the writing was on the wall even before kick off, with Beccs pre-match warm up carried out with both clinical precision and speed, whereas the visitors were simply trying to shake off the journey and going through the motions.
From the kick off Beccs posted their intent, led by their #20 flanker , driving into the ‘Boro pack and feeding their backs with quick unlimited ball. Unlike the previous week, ‘Boro allowed Beccs to lie deep and in doing so provided the space for the impressive axis of #12 and #13 to gain a head of speed that prevented ‘Boro getting to the carrier and putting in telling tackles.
Under this battering it was not too surprising when the #12 cruised through untouched to score the first converted try after just 5 minutes, and the Travelling Faithful once more must have feared a cricket score was in the making.7-0
Five minutes later Beccs recreated the break, exploiting some woeful ‘Boro defence, and recorded the second converted try to put ‘Boro clearly on the back foot. This was now the time for ‘Boro to step up if this match was not to turn into a rout.
Stung by such a start, Crowborough proceeded to tighten up the game, contesting the 50/50 balls that had led to the two tries, and through Sam Marchesi and Bertie Boast releasing their backs. Harry Marchesi and Sam Eyers both had impressive carries during this period, and after several forays into the Beccs half ,’Boro moved into the Beccs 22 after 17 minutes when Toby Bailey burst through the Beccs defence to score to the left of the post for a Connor Hand converted try, bringing a semblance of respect to the scoreline.14-7
The Beccahamian pack is a BIG unit, but with all the running that the Beccs backs had imposed upon the game, they were visibly starting to tire, as the ‘Boro pack took control, both in the tight and at the lineout, which was impressive.
As is often the case, once the gap has been reduced, there is a tendency to relax, which a side does at it’s peril. And so it proved as the Beccs backs once more led by the #12 cruised into the ‘Boro 22, and with a two man overlap the score was inevitable although the kick was missed. 19-7
The restart was a long Bertie Boast drop out over the head of the covering wing, which bounced into touch 10 metres from the Beccs line. This would be the time for the visitors to impose themselves and narrow the gap before they took advantage of the downward slope in the second half.
Crowborough piled on the pressure and turned over the ball, driving towards the Beccs line, and when the impenetrable defensive wall held firm, whipped the ball left through the backs. Again the advance was halted, but the pack arrived en masse to drive forward with Will Creasey crossing the line for a Connor Hand converted try with 32 minutes gone. 19-14
Crowborough were now regaining their confidence, but some wayward and unnecessary kicking out of hand nearly handed the advantage back to the reeling home side.
As the clock approached half time, and with an inordinate number of penalties conceded by the home side, ‘Boro had the opportunity to make it a 19-17 half time game with a simple penalty in front of the post. However this opportunity was ignored and the line out preferred. When the lineout failed to produce the score, Beccahamian’s punished this decision not to take the points when on offer, and proceeded to use the remaining minutes rubbing ‘Boro’s nose in it with a well taken try against the run of play, wide out, making the conversion ultimately too difficult, bringing the half to an end at 24-14!!
At the break, Russel Reading made way for Callum Main, and Richard Tasker allowed Errol Munoz on for a full 40 minute stint.
The half started with a Beccs penalty 27-14, before ‘Boro once more started to exert themselves in attack, but frustratingly continued to fall off the tackles as they appeared to wait for the runners to arrive rather than closing the gap and stopping them in their tracks.
With 12 minutes of the half completed Sam Eyers showed great pace taking the ball from his own 10 metre line before being hauled down short of the Beccs line, before it was cleared into touch.
With the game entering the fourth quarter , and with only 3 points scored in the half, Beccs were awarded a penalty on the ‘Boro 10 metre line. The kick hit the left upright and bounced back into play ,only for the excellent and fast approaching Beccs #20 to seize the rebound, but ‘Boro were alert, snaffled the ball and cleared their line.
Beccs were tiring, and ‘Boro gaining momentum as they moved into the Beccs 22. After several pick and drives, which the home side put much effort into, Alex Purnell found the gap for another Connor Hand converted try. 27-21
Crowborough were now on a roll, with momentum driving all before them, and as the initiative swung in the ‘Boro direction, and coincidently, whether it is the London water or the lack of salt in the diet, several stoppages brought the Beccs Physo onto the pitch to treat cramp, with the result that the momentum was lost!
On two more occasions, one seeing a Beccs player taking a team yellow card for constant illegality, ‘Boro had the opportunity to take 6 more points, but ignored them in favour of quick tap penalties, defying “the definition of madness by repeatedly doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome”, and on neither occasion did the definition change!
However with 80 minutes on the clock, and Crowborough in possession on the Beccs line, desperate Beccs defence was broken wide as ‘Boro crossed the line, agonisingly dropping the ball in the act of scoring. This brought the contest to an end at 27-21, with ‘Boro gaining a losing bonus point which 78 minutes earlier seemed a distant hope.
With Dover losing to Cranbrook, they remain on 45 points in 6th place behind Crowborough in 5th on 65 points and with Bromley drawing with Dartfordians it keeps them in fourth, 8 points ahead with 73 points and two rounds left in the season.
This week Crowborough entertain Thanet Wanderers at Steel Cross KO 3:00pm, for their fifth meeting in twelve months.