For the second consecutive week, Crowborough once more travelled up to South London, hoping to build upon the previous week’s positive but ultimately losing performance, against runaway league leaders Old Elthamians.
With five changes to the side and limited exposure to the training field, due to the still water logged Steel Cross pitches, Crowborough arrived early to run through the plays with the revised lineup.
Both sides were on 18 points with Crowborough edging it in 7th place due to points difference/wins recorded, and of the nine games played to date the results gave little indication as to the relative strengths of the two sides, nor was there any data to indicate the outcome of this penultimate fixture of 2025.
From the KO Becs posted their intention to play full on rugby, with the backs feeding their wing who breezed through three ineffective ‘Boro tackles , before Harry Marchesi stopped this initial momentum as the ball was knocked on.
From the scrum, Jared Hermann fed Richard Taylor, who with his wealth of experience was well aware of the defence bordering on the off-side line, and withheld the pass. This effective dummy provided the smallest of gaps, and although he was blocked, the action posted a warning to the home side, that the press defence could be a risky option.
From a penalty, Becs renewed the pressure deep into the ‘Boro 22, and having sucked in the defence, they moved the ball wide with the #15 entering the line to breeze over for the score. The kick was missed.5-0
Next up was Jared Hermann who from a penalty put the ball into touch on the Becs 22. Dave Bennet rose to take the ball and fed to Callum Main who set up the initial maul. In years gone by, the Becs pack have always been robust, so it initially came as a surprise to the visitors when their initial drive moved the defenders back several metres towards their line. Rather than stabilising the movement the home side continued to back peddle, and broke wide open as the ‘Boro eight crossed the line with Richard Tasker coming up with the ball which Jared Hermann converted. 5-7
Crowborough were soon on the attack once more when the #15 deliberately knock on to deny ‘Boro a scoring chance and saw yellow. Down to 14 men, did not seem to worry the home side as they once more made Crowborough defend narrowly with Becs driving close to the ruck with over 7 phases of play, before slinging out a wide pass to score out on the left for an unconverted try. 10-7
The see-sawing scoring continued, with ‘Boro taking advantage of the extra man, when the returning Sam Marchesi fed Jonah Houghton who drew the defender before releasing Will Pitman, who skipped two attempted tackles before crossing the line, for Jared Herman to convert.10-14.
With ‘Boro trying to build upon the score , Boro’s momentum was halted following several Becs injuries that required the #4 to leave the field. From the ensuing penalty, Becs won the lineout on the 5 metre line and drove over to take the half time score to 17-14 HT
From the restart any Becs a attempts to break out were well corralled by the ‘Boro back row with Callum Main seemingly everywhere putting in awsome tackles, followed by strong carries into the heart of the Becs defence.
Playing up the hill ‘Boro put a penalty into the Becs 22. From the lineout ‘Boro set up the maul, crabbing right. As the maul moved further right it opened up the fifteen metre channel, and with the Becs winger covering across, Josh Rhodes picked up and sprinted fifteen metres unopposed to score in the corner for the unconverted score. 17-19.
This contest was starting to mirror the earlier analysis with the result in doubt even at this late stage of the game with 7 minutes left to play.
Much to the angst of the visiting support, the Becs #8 broke right, and bounced off several attempted tackles before being brought down short of the line. With the ruck set, the pressure was too much and the score under the posts made the conversion a formality and the outcome of the match swung very much towards the home side with just two minutes left.24-19.
Crowborough threw everything into these final moments, with the pack providing ball for Sam Marchesi who broke left into the Becs 22. Spying a gap he attempted the cut inside, but the centre stripped the ball backwards and with the ball hitting the leg of another defender crossed the try line. Two defenders chased after it followed by Harry Marchesi, but agonisingly for the home support, the two defenders overran the ball allowing Marchesi to dot the ball down for the score.24-24
The official indicated that there was still time to restart, leaving Jared Hermann the unenviable task of taking the kick for the potential win. The opposing supporters could only hope.
Sadly for the ‘Boro support, the ball grazed the outside of the left post, and Becs rushed to take the restart with the aim of getting down the park and taking the win. Although they made a good attempt, the ball was eventually spilled and the whistle went to confirm the result and that original predictions of a close encounter.24-24 FT
This coming weekend Crowborough play the final game of the year, hosting local rivals Heathfield, who earlier in the season narrowly beat Beccahamians 27-32. KO 2:00pm
At Steel Cross, Crowborough 2nd XV hosted Uckfield 1st XV running out 22-7 winners.