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Sat 06 Oct 2018 · London 3 South East
1st XVHastings & Bexhill
24
5
Borough Remain on Top.....
Ian GEERING8 Oct 2018 - 21:25
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Despite some very tough conditions !!
Match Report from Rick Howe.
Summer turned to winter in the space of just 24 hours, and as temperatures plummeted to 14 degrees accompanied by a bitter wind and pouring rain, proper rugby resumed, as Crowborough welcomed Hastings & Bexhill to Steel Cross.
This season ‘Boro have developed a much more direct and supportive form of rugby, based on a fit, dominant pack, backed by an expansive back line.
With the pack piling on the pressure, Hastings coughed up several un-kickable penalties in the first ten minutes before points were added to the score board. The first came from Callum Main, following a long period of ‘Boro pressure.
In previous games frustration would have ruined the opportunity, but with the coaches urging patience the pack slowly but inexorably, drove the bigger Hastings outfit over their line for Callum Main to pick up and dot the ball over the line for a Sam Kisbee converted try. 7-0
Seven minutes later, with ‘Boro dominating the close exchanges, Tom West broke from the back of the maul, only to be uncompromisingly flattened by Hastings flanker Jack James. Like a rubber ball he bounced back to his feet saw a gap and the try line some 60 metres away, and in a fleeting moment he was gone, leaving the defence and his team mates trailing behind as he scored in the corner. 12-0
With half time approaching Tom West was once more in the action as Hastings, attacking into ‘Boro territory, had the ball dislodged. Tom West collected the loose ball and placed a long raking kick deep into the Hastings half. As the ball bounced towards the touchline, it decided to rebound in-field just as Tom Boddy arrived, and putting a final tap to the ball, he followed up to touch down in the corner for an unconverted try taking the half time score to 17-0.
Hastings came out in the second half full of determination to redress the score line and for much of the half put the home side under pressure. However the ‘Boro defence held firm and with fifteen minutes of the half left, and with the visitors visibly tiring, the Crowborough pack drove over the line, but Hastings collapsed the maul leaving the official with no option but to award a penalty try taking ‘Boro into bonus point territory with a score of 24-0.
This is where the score should have stayed but for a lapse of concentration in the backs that saw Hastings deservedly pull back a score through winger Tim Sills who ran in unopposed to bring the game to an end at 24-5.
This win keeps Crowborough top of the table, just one point ahead of Old Dunstonians, but with yet another week of high scores there is still no indication as to how the season is likely to pan out for anyone in this highly competitive league. Next week is cup competition week, and with ‘Boro sitting that out, their next league action will be against Bromley away on 14th Oct.
In a tightly contested game Crowborough 2’s were narrowly beaten 5-10 by East Grinstead 2’s whilst the Crows ran out 40-0 winners away to Mid Sussex Barbarians due the Away walkover ruling.
Summer turned to winter in the space of just 24 hours, and as temperatures plummeted to 14 degrees accompanied by a bitter wind and pouring rain, proper rugby resumed, as Crowborough welcomed Hastings & Bexhill to Steel Cross.
This season ‘Boro have developed a much more direct and supportive form of rugby, based on a fit, dominant pack, backed by an expansive back line.
With the pack piling on the pressure, Hastings coughed up several un-kickable penalties in the first ten minutes before points were added to the score board. The first came from Callum Main, following a long period of ‘Boro pressure.
In previous games frustration would have ruined the opportunity, but with the coaches urging patience the pack slowly but inexorably, drove the bigger Hastings outfit over their line for Callum Main to pick up and dot the ball over the line for a Sam Kisbee converted try. 7-0
Seven minutes later, with ‘Boro dominating the close exchanges, Tom West broke from the back of the maul, only to be uncompromisingly flattened by Hastings flanker Jack James. Like a rubber ball he bounced back to his feet saw a gap and the try line some 60 metres away, and in a fleeting moment he was gone, leaving the defence and his team mates trailing behind as he scored in the corner. 12-0
With half time approaching Tom West was once more in the action as Hastings, attacking into ‘Boro territory, had the ball dislodged. Tom West collected the loose ball and placed a long raking kick deep into the Hastings half. As the ball bounced towards the touchline, it decided to rebound in-field just as Tom Boddy arrived, and putting a final tap to the ball, he followed up to touch down in the corner for an unconverted try taking the half time score to 17-0.
Hastings came out in the second half full of determination to redress the score line and for much of the half put the home side under pressure. However the ‘Boro defence held firm and with fifteen minutes of the half left, and with the visitors visibly tiring, the Crowborough pack drove over the line, but Hastings collapsed the maul leaving the official with no option but to award a penalty try taking ‘Boro into bonus point territory with a score of 24-0.
This is where the score should have stayed but for a lapse of concentration in the backs that saw Hastings deservedly pull back a score through winger Tim Sills who ran in unopposed to bring the game to an end at 24-5.
This win keeps Crowborough top of the table, just one point ahead of Old Dunstonians, but with yet another week of high scores there is still no indication as to how the season is likely to pan out for anyone in this highly competitive league. Next week is cup competition week, and with ‘Boro sitting that out, their next league action will be against Bromley away on 14th Oct.
In a tightly contested game Crowborough 2’s were narrowly beaten 5-10 by East Grinstead 2’s whilst the Crows ran out 40-0 winners away to Mid Sussex Barbarians due the Away walkover ruling.
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