Match Report this week is by Graham Callard.
By their own admission this was a very much changed Deal & Betteshanger side that lost heavily to Heathfield & Waldron in the last round of fixtures. It showed as they started well with their big forwards putting Crowborough’s defence to the test from the off. It was Crowborough however who took an early lead following some excellent interplay between the Marchesi brothers. The men in black transgressed leaving Jonah Houghton with an easy three points in front of the posts. Immediately from the restart Dave Bennett took the ball and galloped deep into the home half. The ball was off loaded but the final pass which surely would have ended in a try was wayward.
Deal & Betteshanger regained their composure and using the scrum as dominant platform started to release their pacy backs. A last gasp try saving tackle by Josh Jarvis prevented a score but moments later after clever support lines their big centre was crashing over for a try. Only 8 minutes gone and hosts were ahead, and with the conversion the score was 7-3.
As the game developed Crowborough began to get the measure of the Deal & Betteshanger forwards, but the hosts lively fly-half, Ollie Best, was still keeping the red and white defensive wall honest. Sadly, too often in the first quarter Crowborough found themselves having to relinquish possession due to silly infringements in the contact areas. Deal & Betteshanger grew in confidence and their big pack was constantly hammering away at Crowborough’s defence.
It was the visitors who scored next however. Under pressure young Sam Marchesi threw a looping wide pass to wing Gus Weir who took the ball deep into the D&B half. He offloaded to the onrushing support players and several smart passes later Will Pitman latched onto the ball and crashed over some 5 metres from the touch line. The conversion sailed wide but Crowborough were ahead 7-8.
A penalty had pushed the hosts further ahead and with half time approaching Deal & Betteshanger extended that lead. Following a powerful scrum Ollie Best scampered unhindered into the ‘Borough half before releasing the big centre who crashed over close to the posts. Half-time 15-8.
I don’t know what was said at the break but the visitors came out of the traps like greyhounds on heat. Almost straight from the kick off Crowborough drove at D&B. From the first contact Josh Rhodes got his hands on the ball and decided the best option was to canter from 50 metres out through the weak home defence and score near the posts. Sadly, The conversion was again missed. 15-13.
Within minutes Crowborough went ahead with another passage of amazing handling between backs and forwards. Jarred Hermann making his 1st XV debut put in a beautiful raking kick which was pounced on by the charging red & whit back line. The ball was popped left then right, then left and back again before Sam Edwards crashed over for the score. The conversion took the score to 15-20.
Crowborough continued to pile on the pressure and it wasn’t long before the lead was extended to 15-27. A speculative kick ahead and with the ball now bouncing our way Gus Weir found himself chasing the ball towards the corner. Deft footwork and a pacy follow up saw him dive on the ball for the score, and the try bonus point. The conversion was added by Jared Hermann. Sadly, for Gus Weir this was his last action as he limped off with a suspected hamstring injury.
The Crowborough backs continued to play with gay abandon with mesmerising pace and accuracy of passing. Sadly, the scoreboard remained static. With about 15 minutes of the half gone the tide slowly turned back in favour of the hosts. The big pack now finding a second wind started to put concerted pressure on the ‘Borough defensive line. Time after time they were knocking on the door, but amazing defence and sloppy handling when it mattered kept the visitors ahead.
The home pressure finally told when young Hermann tried to clear the ‘Borough line. The trajectory of his kick was inches too low allowing Deal & Betteshanger’s man of the match Ollie Best to charge down the kick and touch down for the try. He added the extra points taking the score to 22-27.
The game relentlessly headed to full-time with more and more pressure from D&B. The dam finally broke with the clock deep into injury time. The scrum was the platform with the ball making its way to the centre who crashed over under the posts. The conversion took the score to 29-27.
The boys were disappointed with the loss but two bonus points from this tricky away tie could prove to be crucial at the end of the season.
Bromley up next at Steel Cross. Kick-off 14:00.