Following the previous weeks frustrating and disappointing narrow defeat, Crowborough were naturally anxious to get their season back on track against an OC side riding high, after their excellent 45 point margin win over Maidstone.
Slow to adjust to the tempo of the match the previous week, Crowborough were not about to make the same mistake twice, and from the kick off posted their intention to maintain a pressure game for the full 80 minutes.
The ‘Boro pack bolstered by the return of several players including captain Matt Botterman, ensured a continuous stream of quick quality possession which half backs Tom West and Ali Main made full use of.
With four minutes gone Ali Main slung out an outrageous pass cutting out both centres to Gus Weir on the left wing, who ghosted to within three metres of the line before being bundled into touch. ‘Boro had posted their intensions.
The first score came after 10 minutes, when a long OC clearance was fielded by Gus Weir, who popped up the pass to the supporting Connor Hand. Breaking left he fed the fast approaching Ollie Clinch who took the ball and coasted around the hapless defence to score out wide. The kick by Ali Main drifted wide. 5-0
Ten minutes later with the pack putting pressure on the OC defence ten metres out, five pick and go’s saw Will Creasey emerged from the back of the maul to score the try which went unconverted 10-0
Both defences were tested during the next fifteen minutes with Crowborough’s in particular, putting in some shuddering tackles that rocked the visitors backwards. On 35 minutes Tom West broke from a scrum on the ‘Boro 22 and sprinted 50 metres before being caught. But he had done the damage. The support arrived and from the ruck Matt Botterman started a fourteen phase series of plays that saw Alex Purnell finish off the drive for an Ollie Clinch converted try 17-0.
This was the last play that Ali Main was to take part in having to leave the field with a suspected ham string injury and soon afterwards he was joined by his brother Callum Main with a serious shoulder injury.
Ollie Clinch moved seamlessly to #10 whilst Lloyd Smith came on at #15 and Tom Kent came into the back row. HT 17-0
Old Colfeians came out after half time much the livelier of the two sides testing the ‘boro defence that showed it was up to the task, however Tom Kent was forced to spend 10 minutes for a high tackle, allowing OC’s to have the best of the next period. Awarded a penalty in front of the posts some 25 metres out OC’s ignored the three points and went for the lineout which they won.
Crowborough’s defence was uncompromising as phase after phase saw OC’s approaching the ‘Boro line only to be denied, and as the maul was held up, the momentum stalled, and ‘Boro were awarded the scrum.
Ollie Clinch cleared up-field to the OC left wing, who was caught and dispossessed by Matt Botterman. Andy Orchard was fast in support and made it to the five metre line before being brought down. From the scrum Matt Botterman picked up drawing the defence before feeding Tom West who scooted around his opposite number to score the fourth bonus point try converted by Ollie Clinch. 24-0
Moments later with OC’s on the attack Tom Boddy intercepted a pass between the centres and sprinted forty metres to put the ball down between the posts to score a Ollie Clinch converted try. 31-0
Credit to the visitors who continued to put pressure on at every opportunity and with the game long lost, both the #8 and #9 scored well worked converted tries bringing the score to 31-14 , and with the final whistle just moments away.
This gave the home side just enough time to elect to take a scrum ten metres out when they were awarded a penalty, and with the shove on and the OC pack moving backwards Tom Kent emerged to cover the final three metres for another Ollie Clinch converted try taking the final score to 38-14.
This weekend Crowborough once more make the two hour trip to the east coast to take on Thanet Wanderers fresh from their 15-38 win over Maidstone.