Fifth placed Crowborough, welcomed 6th placed and newly promoted Park House, back to Steel Cross for what promised to be a closely contested match, in front of a large boisterous crowd, whose numbers were bolstered by those attending the sponsors lunch.
Park House’s season has been one of frustration and “if only “ moments, with four bonus point losses, two narrow wins and an emphatic defeat of Cranbrook, and they started this encounter determined to add to their “win “ column.
However Crowborough, with a much altered pack, were something of the unknown. Could they continue to contest the set pieces and dominate the breakdowns, winning those 50:50 balls of previous matches, and in doing so provide their mercurial backs with quick ball, or would the initiative be handed to the visitors.
Such conundrums were soon to be answered. For fully the first forty minutes the game was played deep in the Park half, with only four forays made by the visitors into the ‘Boro 22. The revised ‘Boro pack gave no quarter, and continued to provide their backs with good quality ball, but the paradox of the “irresistible force hitting the immovable object” was to be a feature of the first half with ‘Boro making ground only to be halted in their tracks by a formidable Park defence, and unable to find their way through to score.
A half time score line of 0-0 would on the face of it tend to suggest something of a boring forty minutes, but this was anything but. Both sides did all they could to move the stubborn orange glowing figures on the scoreboard, but a slippery ball and a few wayward kicks kept the score looking like a low alcohol advertisement! 0-0 HT
With ten minutes of the second half played, Crowborough eventually broke the deadlock with a well taken try down the left wing, when a Park clearance was taken by Will Pitman, who, under pressure, off-loaded to Harry Marchesi in support. Marchesi spied space down the 15 metre channel and made thirty metres, drawing in the defence before popping the inside pass to brother Sam Marchesi, who cut inside to score under the posts for a Jonah Houghton converted try. 7-0
The attrition continued, with neither side indicating that they were “done yet”. Park applied continual pressure, whilst ‘Boro conceded unnecessary penalties that allowed Park to creep metre by metre into dangerously threatening positions, the last being five metres from their own line. With a quick tap the Park eight charged in, and the overwhelming support drove over the line for an unstoppable try that was well converted from out on the right touchline, to level the scores 7-7 and 7 minutes to go.
This would prove to be the longest seven minutes for both sides. Firstly, ‘Boro attacked deep on the right side ,but as it had been for the preceding seventy three minutes, the Park defence remained solid, although this time illegally so, allowing Jonah Houghton the difficult opportunity to put daylight between the sides with the clock running down to full time.
With the crowd respectfully silent, as they had been for the pre-match minute silence for “The Fallen”, the ball sailed between the uprights 10-7 with just injury time to play.
Park needed no second invitation, and determined to avoid another loss ran the ball back into the ‘Boro half. Keeping the ball tight in the pack they rolled the maul, down the left wing to within 20 metres of the ‘Boro line when ‘Boro transgressed. The referee called” last play”.
The dilemma as ever, was to risk the kick for the draw, or the miss for the loss, or go for touch and hope for a catch and drive to take the win. Park’s never say die attitude prevailed, and the kick to touch set up the lineout against the more diminutive ‘Boro pack. But as the ball came in ‘Boro managed to get a hand to it, and as the loose ball came down, it was swiftly despatched into touch to bring the game to a halt at 10-7.
Park must feel the world is against them as they once more picked up a losing bonus point with the win just out of reach. Crowborough will take the win, which for this much altered side was richly deserved and keeps them in sixth place on 27 points, keeping them in touch with the top of the league where first placed Canterbury are on 35 points, whilst slowly moving away from the lower half of the table.
Next week Crowborough travel Away to Deal and Betteshanger who yesterday lost to Crowborough's Sussex neighbours Heathfield by 57 points.