After the previous weeks defeat against high flying Bromley, this was the time for a reset, and get back on” the horse”. But this was to be the culmination of the perfect storm.
After their disappointment at Bromley, the Physio table had two new casualties to add to the myriad of those already being treated. With the weekend being scheduled as a half-term fallow period, several players had made alternative family arrangements. This made a total of 22 players unavailable through injury or other commitments.
Frustratingly, the previous game against Dover, which had to be cancelled due to a frozen pitch, had to be rescheduled for the next available date, this being the 10th February. With so many positional and personnel changes it was essential that a good training session was held, to bed in the new line up, but the biblical deluge during the week put paid to that! So it was an unfamiliar line up that took to the excellent Dover pitch.
From the kick off, ‘Boro immediately put their difficulties behind them and tore into the home side securing possession and driving deep into the 22. Although ‘Boro then put together a series of pick and drives the Dover eight were more that up for the challenge and repelled wave after wave of attacks from the Sussex side.
For eighteen long minutes this stalemate continued in the 22, until at last the breakthrough came with Sam Edwards finally crossing the line for a Jonte Fraser converted try. 0-7
Was this to be scant reward for so much effort, or the start of a concerted ‘Boro revival?
A Dover penalty soon afterwards narrowed the gap, but that was immediately followed by a well taken converted try out wide on the right, when the Dover #15, carved a gap in the ‘Boro defence, whose line speed and narrow defence failed to close down the space and stem the momentum. This was soon followed by an excellent cross field kick to the right wing , exploiting the narrow ‘Boro defence, to score in the corner.
Unfortunately it soon became apparent that this success would be the point of attack which would see Dover continue to exploit for the rest of the afternoon, with training ground moves, that would see a total of six tries to gain their try bonus point.
As half time approached, the 15-7 score line, that was not too onerous for a second half comeback, was extended as the Dover prop latched onto a loose ball to crash through the defence for a converted try to take the half time score to less manageable 22-7
Crowborough although on the back foot, would continue to show character and never gave up, although much of the hard won ball was often kicked away, unerringly finding its way to the mazy running #15 who needed no second invitation to set up several successful counter attacks, one of which created an overlap on the right for a simple converted try 29-7
When ‘Boro had the opportunity to move the ball through the hands, much of the intent was laudable but predictable, and could have had more successful outcomes if the off-loads had come at or before the contact point, rather than allowing the tackle to be completed. From one such attack, the pack through Creasey, Purnell and Bennett, worked the ball to within five metres of the Dover line before Sam Marchesi released Toby Bailey on the left who found Sam Ayers in support on the wing for a well taken Jonte Fraser converted try. 29-14
With the game in the final quarter, Dover were on a roll and added three more tries, but not before ‘Boro showed their” never say die attitude”, when the pack drove the Dover defence over their line enabling Sam Marchesi to snatch up the ball and cross for the Jonte Fraser converted try, bringing the game to and end at 48-21.
Although the team will be disappointed and the coaching staff frustrated, the side will regroup for their third consecutive away trip to Ashford, 17/2/24 KO 2:30pm.