Crowborough matched the performances of the top 5 sides in the league with emphatic wins, save for the excellent performance of Dover’s narrow defeat by Sevenoaks 2nds.
On a dank, miserable, and perishingly cold afternoon, Crowborough arrived to restart their 2025 campaign against a side that, although residing in the lower reaches of the league, have often proven to be the banana skin that has ruined the visitor’s parade, and were not to be taken lightly.
On a firm pitch, that defied the fact that it had been under snow for the past two weeks, the surface was ideal for the fast running rugby that the fitter and swifter ‘Boro fifteen have practiced all season.
Crowborough do not always travel well, but came out of the blocks to immediately camp deep in the Ashford 22, with the pack leading the charge, taking the game to the bigger home eight, and dragging them from touchline to touchline. From the first scrum some fifteen metres out, ‘Boro put on the shove, and as the home pack back-peddled, the maul developed, and it was Will Creasey who crossed the line to open ‘Boro’s account, with Oscar Thatcher adding the extras. 0-7
The ‘Boro eight have developed a technique and confidence during the first half of the season, that has enabled them to go toe to toe with most opposition, and they did not need a second invitation when Sam Marchesi put them 5 metres out from the Ashford line where the home side transgressed. The penalty was put into touch where Joe Chapman rose above the rest to catch the throw- in. Recycling the ball to the back of the driving maul, it was Sam Edwards who, protecting the ball, crossed to record the try converted by Oscar Thatcher with just 10 minutes gone. 0-14
With the pack having taken the initial plaudits it was the backs who were next to get their hands on the ball, and with a spontaneity that comes with the impetuousness of youth, proceeded to move the ball with speed and precision, dazzling both the opposition and spectators with their collective talented understanding.
In defence, both backs and forwards operated in concert, halting any attempted Ashford attacks, and turning defence into attack in the blink of the eye. To all watching it felt like just a matter of time before the flood gates would open.
The home side resorted to trying to kick out of defence, but handing possession to the visitors was not a good idea, allowing half backs Marchesi and Skinner to monopolise territory and dictate the narrative.
Following a chip through by King, Ashford collected and attempted to break out of their 22, only to drop the ball. Josh Rhodes, covering across scooped up the errant ball, and charged towards the line, only to be brought down inches short, but having the presence of mind to off-load to the ever present Sam Skinner to score. The conversion was a formality.0-21
With confidence high, Rhodes once more charged towards to Ashford half, feeding Josh Jarvis with Gus Weir in support who was bundled into touch just fifteen metres short. The lineout was knocked on by the home side, and the resultant scrum saw misery piled upon misery as the front row popped up and backwards. A second scrum was called for, but in their anxiousness to score ‘Boro were adjudged to have edged off-side allowing the home side to clear their line.
A feature of the ‘Boro packs attacking play was the robust performances of the back row, all of whom moved rapidly into support positions from exceptionally deep, securing pop passes that defied the speed of the eye, before drawing the tackle, and then off-loading “no look passes” to supporting players.
Josh Rhodes , who was having an excellent afternoon, made a break down the right blind side , and when the cover belatedly came across, it was too late as Sam Marchesi arrived in support to take the off-load and score another Thatcher converted bonus point try. 0-28 HT
At this point, bizarrely, the ‘Boro side, having successfully and clinically moved into a commanding position with a full team performance, reverted back to several individuals trying to make their own mark on the game.
This action played straight into the home side’s game plan, allowing them fifteen minutes of dominance either side of half time, when they scored two converted tries, which could easily have been three. The first came from a poor relieving kick that handed possession to the home side forcing the try out to the left.
The second came when Crowborough threw everyone into attack down the left, and when an ambitious lob pass, to cut out the defence, fell short, it was intercepted by the wing ,who with the back three committed to the attack, made the score a formality ,and a lesson learnt!
This second score was preceded by a sublime solo try by Will Pitman, who received the ball on the half way line, dummied to come inside before side stepping off his right, to round his opposite number. As the cover came across, a further two side steps off his left, opened up the route to score out wide. The kick was missed.14-33
The final ten minutes exploited the rapidly tiring home side, with all three similar scores taken at pace, from Callum Main, Oscar Thatcher and Will Creasey, with conversions by Thatcher 14-52 FT .
This result keeps Crowborough in 5th position three points behind local rivals Heathfield and just two points ahead of next weeks rearranged fixture away to Dover KO 2:00pm.