This was the clash of last year’s two promoted sides. The visitors inflicted two of the four defeats that the home side suffered last season, and had started this season’s campaign in imperious form, taking a maximum 15 points from their first three games to head the division alongside Haywards Heath. Crowborough, after their narrow opening day loss, have not been too shabby either, taking 12 points from their three games to sit third in the league, but few would have predicted the outcome of this encounter.
With the weather set fine and the pitch prepared for running rugby, ‘Boro started in now familiar style, driving through their forwards with close support and off-loads, sucking in the defence before releasing their backs to exploit the inevitable holes.
Before the large crowd had settled ‘Boro were on the scoreboard when they were awarded a penalty deep in Becs 22. Backing themselves, ‘Boro elected for the scrum against the larger Becs pack, and with the solid ‘Boro front five putting on the shove the ball came back to captain Matt Botterman at #8 who picked up and skirted the cover, to cross the line for the first score that went unconverted. 5-0
Crowborough’s pre-season fitness regime was telling from the start, with the forwards snaffling most of the 50:50 possession, and forcing the visitors onto the back foot. Half backs Tom West and Ollie Clinch were having a ball, releasing their back line on piercing line breaking runs that allowed the game to be played exclusively in the Bec’s half for almost the whole of the first forty minutes.
When Becs transgressed on their own 10 metre line Ollie Clinch stepped up for the long penalty kick, that sailed sweetly between the sticks, sending a warning that any penalty in their own half would clearly be punished. 8-0
The next score went to Tom West, when Ollie Clinch engineered a well-rehearsed backs move that saw Mitch Malherbe cut a devastating line that sliced through the Becs defence, and as he unselfishly committed the full back, he popped the pass to the supporting Tom West who scampered over for the try that Ollie Clinch converted.15-0
As half time approached ‘Boro had one more attack through their backs that reached the Becs 22 before resolute defensive work halted the move. As the ball was transferred to the forwards, some twenty phases of play saw the ball moved from left wing to right wing without being able to break down the Becs line. Once more the ‘Boro pack moved back towards the left wing, where Alex Purnell spotted a slight gap in the defence to take the half time score to 20-0.
Soon after the game resumed, the West/ Malherbe combo was once more on the score sheet, with Ollie Clinch setting up an identical move to that of the first half with the same predictable result, Ollie Clinch adding the two points 27-0.
To their credit Beccehamians continued to compete, and attack through their backs. With limited possession Becs backs were forced to attack out of defence and whist attempting a chip ahead on their own 10 metre line the ball hit Tom West and bounced kindly into his hands. Once more the Malherbe/West axis came into play as Mitch Malherbe, supporting on the outside called for the pass and indicated the Tom West should remain on inside for the return once the last line of defence had been committed. Tom West’s third try was a formality although unconverted.32-0
Crowborough were then guilty of taking their foot off the gas, and allowed Becs to score a well worked converted try although the clock was now not in their favour.32-7
Finally with Bec’s trying to clear the ball up-field Lloyd Smith charged down a kick and having fielded the bouncing ball found Rob Lester on his shoulder to take the off-load and score a Connor Hand converted try. 39-7.
This result puts Crowborough in second place on 17 points, behind Haywards Heath on 19. This Saturday is set to do it all again as Beccehamians and Crowborough have been drawn in the first round of the Intermediate Cup this time away in south London.