Not Even the Rain, Hail, Snow or Sunshine could help Boro Today

Match Report by Graham Callard
Photos By Drew Pratt,

Apparently at 10:30am on Saturday morning the game at Charlton Park was very much in the balance due to the deluge of rain that had fallen in the previous 24 hours. They made the bold decision to go ahead and were more than justified because by kick off the wind and the sunshine had done what it needed to.
It became clear early on that Charlton Park were well organised and well disciplined. Their forwards had the edge over Crowborough and serviced their large pacey backs with good ball. An early Park try scoring opportunity, after a fine Luke Boyns break, was thwarted only when Gus Weir intercepted the final Park pass. This set the tone for the early engagements.
Crowborough gradually got into the game putting some decent passages of play together. After 20 minutes it was 0-0 but Crowborough aimlessly kicked away good ball putting themselves under pressure. Thankfully Charlton Park's backs on far too many occasions tried the miracle pass and in the strengthening wind the inevitable happened, the ball sailed past the intended receiver.
Charlton Park opened the scoring on the back of poor decision making by Crowborough. On the 30 minute mark and after an excellent long range attack by the visitors the ball should have gone wide to Gus Weir wide out but it didn't. It got spilled and the home side quickly pounced on the loose ball. Three sharp inter-passes and the ball was soon in the hands of their lightening quick full-back Reion Raybe who cantered in from 40 meters out for the score under the posts. The conversion was added by Rio Cooper. 7-0
Oli Clinch made up for his earlier misjudgement by slotting a penalty, our only score of the day, but it wasn't long before Park were back on scoreboard after another wayward kick straight into the hands of the waiting defenders. Amazing offloads, three missed tackles and another try this time by Jack Hudson was the outcome. Cooper again added the extra points. 14-3
Crowborough weren't out of it and with Tom Kent leading the charge and Tom West trying to keep the Charlton Park defence honest ‘Borough were now stringing together some good passages of play. They played well enough but basic mistakes and poor decision making left the visitors with just the three points to show for their efforts. Half Time Score 14-3.
Crowborough started well in the second half only to be knocked back by another well taken try by Park with just 11 minutes of the half gone. Their forwards and backs interlinked well with the ball eventually finding its way to Nick Aston who powered over. With the conversion 21-3. 'Borough had long periods where they dominated possession and territory. Ali Main and Oli Clinch worked hard in the backs as did Andrew Orchard in the forwards but yet again Crowborough couldn't convert their efforts into points. The home defence was excellent especially at the ruck where their ability to turn the ball over was spot on. The final nail came at the death when the tiring, very cold and very wet 'Borough side gave up another simple try for the hosts taking the final score to 28-3.
Whilst the home deserved the win the scoreline flattered and didn’t reflect the shift the visitors had put in. There is much for ‘Borough to work on especially the aimless, and needless kicking, erratic decision making and missed tackles but the Steel Cross boys can still hold their heads high; they gave of their all and didn’t give up.
In very trying conditions the young referee was excellent from start to finish; consistent, accurate, communicative and fit.
Crowborough sit comfortably in the top half of the table and now have two weeks off before hosting Maidstone on March 21st when hopefully it will have stopped raining.