Match Report by Rick Howe,
And our Referee today was Stewart Goodwin.
After 18 months of inactivity Rugby returned to Steel Cross last Saturday, where the home side welcomed back their last opponents from March 2020 when they engineered a narrow win.
Few knew what to expect from a new look ‘Boro side, as the players ran onto the pristine pitch, having already delved into the depth of the squad as the injury count from pre-season friendlies had taken it’s toll.
Any thoughts that the 2 hour journey would hamper the visitors was soon dispelled, when, with just three minutes on the clock Deal took a quick tap penalty, metres away from the ‘Boro line, and with the home defence slow to react ‘Boro were soon back behind their line, and with the kick missed, facing a 0-5 score line.
Tom West pulled 3 points back moments later, but it was Deal who had the momentum , constantly changing the point of attack as ‘Boro’s uncompromising defensive work, notably from Adam King, frustrated the visitors. “Uncharacteristic” ‘Boro ill discipline deep in their own half saw a series of Deal penalty attempts at goal go wide, but with so much practice one was bound to succeed, 3-8
Although it appeared that Deal were in the ascendancy Crowborough doggedly hung in there, and following a Dave Bennett charge down, where he was cynically hauled back with the try line arguably in range, ‘Boro were awarded another penalty whilst the offender saw yellow. Tom West duly slotted the 3 points 6-8
No quarter was being given by either side, and the physios from both teams were constantly in demand, no more so than when Crowborough’s George Jones suffered a horrific dislocated ankle. Unable to move him until the ambulance arrived, the game was relocated to the reserve pitch for the remainder of the half, where Deal quickly added their second converted try of the afternoon before finishing the half with another penalty to take the half time score to 6-18, which was probably a fair reflection of the visitors strength, and the home sides inability to play in their opponents half and exploit what was in front of them.
Deal started the second half as they left off in the first, scoring out wide on the right, which went unconverted, 6-23, before securing a bonus point fourth try when, under this seasons experimental new law, the official deemed that the ball was carried over their own try line and grounded by Crowborough, when many felt that it had been kicked over the line by Deal and grounded by Crowborough for a drop out under the posts. However the ultimately awarded five metre scrum saw the lighter ‘Boro pack put under sufficient pressure for the referee to award a penalty try 6-30 with some 25 minutes remaining.
Having kicked away much of their hard won possession straight to a well drilled Deal back three, Crowborough altered their tactics to exploit the defensive gaps that the Deal back three provided. For the remainder of the contest Crowborough demonstrated their undoubted potential, attacking with confidence and determination.
Bertie Boast reverted back to doing the simple things well, by releasing his backs to exploit what was in front of them. This had an immediate effect when unselfishly each of the backs committed their opposite number before offloading to the support, leaving Tom Boddy with the simple task of scoring out wide. The kick was pulled. 11-30
Deal pulled back three points with another penalty, and with the clock running down it was a credit to the ‘Boro side that they never gave up, and although the result was not in doubt Andy Orchard was put over in the corner following a series of close support plays, and in a light bulb moment, having seen it work once a repeat performance saw Alex Purnell go over under the posts for a Tom West converted try that brought the match to an end at 23-33.
Although on the day the best side won this contest, the way that ‘Boro reversed the flow of play and finished off this game should provide the confidence for next week’s encounter away to Gravesend.