Tony Lawlor Man of the Match v Crowborough

Cinque Ports lose out in close fought battle

Crowborough III 11 Cinque Ports 7 (HT 6-7)

Freezing temperatures and a sticky Crowborough surface did not suggest a festival of free flowing rugby, and the score certainly confirms that but the Grove St Leonards based outfit certainly were not lacking in ambition. From the off CPR looked to spread the ball, captain Paul Smart unleashing Greg Stokes and Luke Price in the centres and the bustling Michael Dangerfield on the wing. A strong Crowborough defence stayed resilient, the backs were held up and the defence even withheld the human wrecking balls of Rob Tritton and Tony Lawlor. Dangerfield did find a gap, he skipped through a stationary defence and looked assured for the line but a tackle denied him inches short and his offload to Stokes was just forward. CPR were soon denied again, the strong scrum gave a platform for scrum half Chris Eastwood and Craig Barningham to smuggle the ball away from the base of the scrum and Barningham grounded the ball in a melee only for the unsighted referee to give a defensive scrum. Crowborough used a kicking game to relieve pressure and a Cinque Ports offence gave them a penalty which was duly stroked home. Chaos from the kick ensued, Dangerfield again found space and the darting Eastwood released the ball. Barningham and Dean Dedman crashed towards the line and Eastwood again was there to send Stokes home. 5-3, rapidly became 7-3 as Smart slotted the conversion. CPR applied the pressure again, Lawlor smashing into a concerned Crowborough defence and Eastwood had danced his way into space before slipping. The CPR scrum was not completely dominant but their opposition seemed to creak at the set piece. Nick Giles at hooker won opposition ball, and from another of these steals Dangerfield came close- again the surface denied him and he slipped. Another break away saw the Crows sink another penalty 7-6 at half time. CPR began the second half in cavalier fashion, another Eastwood break saw winger Lloyd Waughman free before being bundled into touch. The game continued in this fashion, Cinque Ports holding Crowborough in their half- the home team relying on the boot. One such kick saw Waughman spill and from the ensuing kick and chase Crowborough slid home for their try. Cinque Ports did not want to let the game slip away and seemed to camp in the opposition 22. The dangerous Dale Whittington seemed to win ruck ball out of nothing, Barningham and Tritton in support were held up. Forward power seemed to be denied so Smart looked to free the backs Price came close, as did Stokes from a line out. The destructive Barningham again came close but the pressure came to nought and fittingly the game came to an end as Crowborough once again kicked into touch.

Team Manager Gavin Thomas seemed at a loss to put a finger on the reasons for the result "We dominated territory and possession, but their defence seemed intent on keeping us out. I think our poor decision making put us under undue pressure but I'm disappointed not to take more than a bonus point defeat from this" Head Coach Bill Langley said "Poor support play let us down, we applied no end of pressure but failed to take the points," but he did name Tony Lawlor as man of the match for his powerful set piece play and destructive running. Number 8 Barningham was also a strong candidate.

Saturday sees Rye II travelling to the Grove for the next league match KO 2.30pm. 

Team: Lawlor, Giles, Tritton, Earle, Maplesden (Thomas), Dedman, Whittington, Barningham, Eastwood, Smart, Barthropp (Waughman), Stokes, Price, Dangerfield, Malthouse (Sams) Unused Replacment: Sutherland

13.2.2010

Greg Stokes try v Crowborough