Match Report from Rick Howe
And Special Thanks must go to the Referee, Who kindly switch venues during the week - Colin Revell from Pommey.

With their pitch at Steel Cross under water, this fixture was reversed with Crowborough travelling to league leaders Old Elthamians ,who have won all their eight previous games with bonus points and an average score of 55-14.
Old Elthamians are on a mission to get back into the National Leagues, gaining promotion in successive seasons, having earlier taken voluntary demotion into the nether regions of the Kent Leagues.
OE’s were to prove to be a very well drilled powerful and professional outfit, having recruited several players from the National Leagues, and from the kick off set out to intimidate the visitors.
However Crowborough had not read the script, and having played some variable rugby in recent weeks, were determined not just to minimise the score, but to take the game to the home side.
Within minutes, OE’s were stunned by the temerity of the Sussex side, when the ‘Boro pack controlled the ball, driving into the OE’s 22. Providing secure ball for the backs, Crowborough edged ever closer to the line, but the OE defence was well drilled and foiled these initial forays. This was not to be a one off, and for the next ten minutes the score remained a closely contested 0-0 as ‘Boro piled on the pressure.
Like an Ali v Foreman contest, OE’s soaked up the pressure before launching their own attacks, testing the ‘Boro defence which initially acquitted themselves well, before inevitably running out of defenders.
Over the next 25 minutes, play see-sawed between the two 22’s, testing both defences. Eventually OE’s got on top by lying deep to negate the ‘Boro press defence. Orchestrated by the excellent #10, the OE backs took the ball at pace, and with support, created the necessary overlaps to score three tries out wide that went unconverted.15-0
Lesser side would have capitulated at this point, but it seemed to galvanise the visitors who, with half time approaching, attacked once more into the OE half. With the pack making life difficult for the OE’s eight, quick ball released the ‘Boro backs , and with their line under threat the OE defence had to be at their best. At this point the OE #10 decided to give the referee some unneeded and unnecessary advice and was shown yellow!
With the score at 15-0 and a potential score taking the half time score to 15-7, it was agonisingly cruel when the final miss pass was well intercepted by the OE centre, who with all the ‘Boro backs committed to the attack, had a simple 85 metre run in, to score between the sticks to extend the half time score to an unrepresentative 22-0
Lesser sides would have rolled over at this point, but ‘Boro continued to keep the home side honest, attacking with ball in hand and minimising the kicking that would just have handed hard won ball to the dangerous OE backs.
However with the #10 once more back on the field he proceeded to direct the play. With a turn of speed, sleight of hand and a mazy side step he suddenly broke through the ‘Boro defence to score an unconverted try.27-0
This was time for the other half back to get in on the act with two tries, the first at speed, with the second being taken when the ruck ball popped out two metres from the line which several players just stared at whilst the #9 pounced.39-0
Crowborough had attacked throughout the afternoon, and deserved more for their efforts, with poor handling letting them down at the last moment.
With the clock running down, ‘Boro continued to fight for that elusive score. With one final effort, Will Creasey peeled from the back of the lineout, slipping two reckless tackles to set up the ball. Ed Croft moved the ball left with Harry Marchesi sliding into the line to release Will Pitman, who cut inside his opposite number, before shaking off the attention from the full back to score between the posts, for a Jared Hermann converted try 39-7 FT
Although on the losing side, Crowborough can take a lot of confidence from this performance, which showed collective commitment, pride and above all a never say die attitude.
Next week Crowborough travel back to south London to take on eighth placed Beccahamians, also on 18 points, in a must win clash. KO 2:00pm