Cinque Ports Rugby 17 Crowborough III 5 (HT 3-5)

In the previous two weeks Cinque Ports had shown some dazzling rugby, but a very heavy pitch and more ruthless opposition saw two close defeats. A drier but still heavy pitch and a well organised Crowborough side obviously posed the same dangers to a large Cinque Ports squad. Head Coach Bill Langley and manager Gavin Thomas called for "common sense rugby" to ensure neither the opposition nor the pitch spoiled their day.

In the early stages of the game it seemed as if ill discipline might cause problems for the Ports as a succession of penalties saw Crowborough make massive gains in territory, eventually gaining a kick in the 22 that the full back slid wide. This wasn't warning enough and further ill discipline saw Crowborough march into the Cinque Ports 22, from a quick tap the Crowborough scrum half wriggled over for the try. The conversion was missed, but the visitors led 5-0.

Ports realised this was only placing more pressure on themselves so quickly took a more expansive outlook. A powerful pack with stand out players Dean Dedman, Barry Amar, Nick Villeperieux, Mark Wright and Steve Crump smashed into the Crowborough pack, setting up a good platform for the backs controlled by debutante outside half Greg Stokes. Stokes teased Crowborough with a selection of kicks, and released the outside backs to test the opposition defence. Christiaan Brandt particularly stretched the defence but twice he was denied before leaving the field concussed. Despite this attacking display the line was not breached, but full back Carl Malthouse slotted one penalty and missed another to ensure Ports reached half time within reach.

The second half saw a far more ruthless Ports, they controlled the ball  starving Crowborough of possession. Ill discipline now caused problems for Crowborough and a succession of penalties saw ports camped in the corner of the Crowborough 22. Instead of using the battering ram of the forwards Stokes launched a long pass to Colin Whyte who jinked past the defence to score under the posts. Malthouse slid home his second kick.

Ports were certainly in the box seat, probing into Crowborough territory and underlined this when after good work by the forwards the barn-storming Number Eight Craig Barningham crashed over for Cinque Ports second try. Again Malthouse drilled home the kick. Ports could have scored more, sub Tony Potter came close with a powerful run and both Shane Potter and Colin Whyte were denied near the line. Great performances were the order of the day- Stokes was a controlling, creative influence for which he was named man of the match, Malthouse was ruthless with the boot, Whyte was a constant thorn in the side of Crowborough and all the sizable Ports squad had a part in a strong victory.Manager Thomas said "At our level if you control the possession, you control the game. We proved that today"

Team: Doorey (Maplesden), Wright, Villeperieux (Butcher), Parker, Amar (Earle), Dedman, Crump, Barningham, Salmon, Price (Watts), S Potter, Brandt (Brown, T Potter), Whyte, Malthouse Sub not Used: Eastwood