With Storm Eunice causing major damage to the clubhouse and environs on Friday, it did have the beneficial effect of drying out a sodden pitch.
However with the opening whistle, down came the rain once more. This was to be no light shower, but heavy and persistent, continuing throughout the game with tracts of lying water starting to appear reminiscent of the good old days!!
With little change to last week’s line-up there was to be a massive change in both application and effort on behalf of the home side. From the kick off ‘Boro posted their intension, to reverse the outcome of their earlier encounter when they lost 34-26.
The ‘Boro eight mastered the set pieces with apparent ease, and rather than playing safe in the conditions, released quick ball to their backs, who played the ball out wide stretching the Beccs defence. Astonishingly throughout the afternoon there was hardly a dropped pass or fumbled catch by either side. Moreover, taking a leaf out of their previous weeks opponent’s play book, ‘Boro controlled an impressive driving maul that forced the Beccs eight to stay bound in, allowing Ollie Clinch to grab the first try of the afternoon which was sadly unconverted tries. 5 - 0.
Shortly after from a scrum around 8 meter's out from the Beccs line, Boro put the pressure on and they drove the Beccs scrum backwards over the try line for a easy score by Andy Kidd. Sadly the conversion was sent wide, 10 - 0.
It was fully 30 minutes before Beccs ventured into the ‘Boro half, but their attack soon fizzled out and ‘Boro easily cleared their line. As half time approached, Tom Simmonds slung out a long pass to Connor Hand, and with Alex Purnell in close support passed inside. Purnell put boot to ball and with the full back chasing back it was Alex Purnell who won the footrace to score out wide. With the wind making kicking a lottery the conversion fell short. 15-0 Half Time.
With a wrenched neck Ollie Clinch was replaced by young Sam Skinner, making his first team debut, who was to go on to demonstrate a maturity and skill level beyond his years.
Crowborough turned round with the strengthening wind at their backs, and centre Kieron Martin also making his 1st team debut, used the wind to push the Beccs back three defenders deep into their own 22, with some pin point accurate kicking, before then terrorising the defence with his direct running style. This gave Beccs no option but to commit two defenders to the tackle, which allowed him, with the deftest of touches to off-load in contact to Tom Burgess, who with the overlap cruised over to score a well converted Tom Simmonds bonus point try. 22-0
It was left to the industrious Tom Kent to round out the game with his trade mark wrecking ball run from the Beccs 22, taking the ball at speed crashing through three attempted tackles to score to the left of the post for a final converted try. 29-0
This was by any measure, a superb all round performance, it the most testing of conditions, with ‘Boro demonstrating that, not only can they win, but they can do so with a minimal penalty count.
Finally both sides commended the excellent referee Mr Billy Huntley, who allowed the game to flow with minimum interference. Well done Sir.
Next weekend is a fallow week for Crowborough, who will be back in action on 5th March at Old Alleynians.