A Remembrance Day Match which will only be remembered for the lack of Rugby.

Match Report - by Rick Howe.

The expectations from the vocal support around the ground, was for an open fast moving contest, and for the first thirty minutes they were not to be disappointed.
Crowborough soon shook off the long coach journey and were soon mixing it with the home pack, sucking in support on the fringes before releasing their backs. However although the intent was there,, the execution faltered a little as fizzing passes rather than the sympathetic pop passes, to fast arriving support players, went to ground, or the ball held onto a fraction too long.
In contrast the Deal backs showed their own ambition with their #10 and #13 combining at pace and it was only two last moment try saving tackles by Bertie Boast, that prevented the ‘Boro line being crossed.
Deal were first on the score sheet with a try from a maul that was sweetly converted from the touchline by #15, (Luke Armstrong).
This seemed to galvanise ‘Boro, who put behind them the earlier fumbles, and doggedly drove up the field to camp deep in the Deal 22. From a series of scrums, constantly disrupted by the home side, the Deal #2 , (Matt Curd) was shown yellow whilst Mark Rosier ( Injured calf ) was replaced by Ed Higgins.
Once more the scrum was reset, with ‘Boro winning clean possession. Ali Main switched with the fast arriving Mitch Malherbe who was well stopped just short of the line before Matt Botterman arrived, and picking up the ball dived over for the score between the sticks.
As Matt Botterman dived over the referee, who appeared to have been carrying a leg injury from the opening whistle, signalled the score before collapsing, in a heap. After both physios applied their ministrations the kick was converted by Ali Main followed by a conflab between the official and the two captains, which in essence indicated that he would try and run off his leg injury to try and get past the 60 minute mark so that a result could be recorded.
However five minutes later with just 30 minutes played the referee apologised to the two teams, explaining that he could not carry on and that the game would be abandoned, meaning a replay at the earliest available weekend. This subject to confirmation from the RFU will be 30th November.
Clearly this was a disappointing state of affairs, requiring another long journey, at not inconsiderable cost to the faithful, probably set to take place be as winter approaches, and the days get shorter. Oh joy!!
Result : Deal 7 v’s Crowborough 7 ( Abandoned )