Cranbrook win well and hope to avoid relegation
So to the last match of the season with Cranbrook needing at least a point or possibly more to remain at Kent Counties 1 level, the RFU still being undecided at this late stage of the number of relegated teams, varying from 1 to 3 depending on who you listen to.
Crowborough kicked off playing towards the clubhouse on a mild dry day but with a significant cross the field breeze, in front of a larger than usual crowd. Early play established a number of things, Cranbrook were under pressure at scrum and lineout time, the referee Mr Oliver Tyson was going to penalise high tackles and Cranbrook were to get the better of kicking for position. To balance the home teams scrum difficulties which persisted and lineout problems early which were largely overcome later, Cranbrook defended very solidly permitting very few line breaks whilst being very creative in the backs by means of variation in plays, so looking dangerous and making line breaks with some regularity.
This gave them dominance in field position in the first half, though the visitors nearly scored first as a fast winger rounded the defence on the left, cut infield to find space until left wing Anthony Andrews put in a fine tap tackle to save a certain try.
For Cranbrook Andrews, Stefan Jovanovic on the right wing and fullback Elliot Barbour were the beneficiarys of assured midfield play from Alex Cornwallis and Fabian Rimmer and a good delivery from improving scrum half Oliver Addis who has also become proficient at retrieving the ball from a scrum sometimes on the retreat. Barbour was a relevation which was especially heartwarming given his difficulties in a couple of recent games, being confident under the high ball from some inaccurate clearances, whilst Rimmer got more length and accuracy from his own kicks.
A Crowborough centre was first to the bin for a high tackle and Rimmer converted the penalty on 22 minutes from half way out on the right. Soon a loose ball was flykicked down the touchline and into touch near the corner flag. The Crowborough scrum half cleared from the lineout to Barbour about 35 metres out towards touch. Running strongly he broke a tackle and linked with Cornwallis who sent supporting wing forward Bear Pearce over the tryline beside the posts for a 10 - 0 scoreline after 26 minutes as Rimmer converted.
The kick off was soon returned deep again by Rimmer but after a while Crowborough regained the ball and their missing centre returned from the bin whereupon prop Miles Stockman was now carded for a high tackle. This meant a replacement prop had to be called from the bench as Jovanovic was sacrificed. This was none other than the evergreen 'retired' Josh Pankhurst.
Barbour still had time for another fine run as another good pass put him through in midfield, the last tackler brought him down as he approached the tryline in another demonstration of Cranbrook fluidity.
Into the second half Cranbrook despite being a man down continued to attack as outside centre Jack Lewis broke through, lock Tom Hamplett got possession near the tryline but was dispossessed as he seemed likely to score A similar thing happened as Pankhurst collected an overthrown and fumbled lineout, Hamplett again being unable to keep control of the ball at the tryline, this time though it was under advantage so the referee returned to the point of offence for Rimmer to add 3 more points. Locks Hamplett and Rory McDowell were working hard though as the pack defended the gain line well Cranbrook were now back to full strength but coach Chris Catt decided to introduce returning wing Wilf Sellick for Jovanovic whilst Pankhurst replaced Josh Forknall at hooker.
Crowborough now came into the game more, gaining some territory without looking particularly threatening though Sellick did pull off a fine tap tackle on his opposite number and one promising move ended with a knock on. Barbour was the next to be carded for a high tackle then Rimmer made an audacious attempt from a penalty just 2 metres into the Crowborough half. Just sliding past the post the receiver elected to run, evading tackles until brought down by Rimmer near from where he had just kicked for goal. Pankhurst collected another overthrown lineout to make ground, when the ball was recycled left, the Crowborough winger was the next recipient of a card at the tackle. Rimmer put the penalty in to touch on the 22, the ball to the tail of the lineout was fed into midfield where tackles were again broken. Recycled ball was fed to Pankhurst who crashed through 3 tackles from about ten metres to score, Rimmer converting after 70 minutes.
As Horton-Judge came on for Pearce, another score came soon after as from a lineout on halfway Captain Hamish Gillanders fly kicked through loose ball and did brilliantly to regain possession and offload enabling Lewis to score near the posts, Rimmer converting again.
In the remaining time Crowborough did try to attack but were undone by another knock on near the tryline as Crouchman became the final recipient of a card, but Cranbrook closed the game out without conceding at all.
They were rapturously received by the masses outside the clubhouse to where they returned to hear Charlton Park had lost at Heathfield, so elevating Cranbrook to third from bottom and likely to avoid relegation subject to RFU confirmation. Your writer believes the 2 bottom teams from the division above will be relegated into Surrey/Sussex Counties 1, with Eastbourne being the most easterly team in that league coming across to our own Kent 1 to equalise numbers.
Biddenden vineyard man of the match was given to the energetic Rory McDowell, but in truth such was the quality of performance that it could have gone to many others.
Coach Chris Catt was delighted with the performance which he thought deserved the scoreline, being particularly pleased with the connectivity in defence and the players taking more responsibility for events as the squad built confidence and spirit especially from the new year.
Fabian Rimmer was the highest points scorer with 128, but was just shaded by Josh Pankhurst as leading try scorer with 9 to his 8, whilst Jack Lewis got 5.
There is enthusiasm for the Papa-john's-community-cup starting next week at home to Thanet, then if victorious home to Ashford the following week.
Finally to complete a good day the Nomads got their first win of the season and even had a full number of replacements.
The team was 1 T Humphreys, 2 J Forknall, 3 M Stockman, 4 T Hamphlett, 5 R McDowell, 6 B Pearce, 7 H Gillanders Captain, 8 G Crouchman, O Addis, 10 A Cornwallis, 11 A Andrews, 12 F Rimmer, 13 J Lewis, 14 S Jovanovic, 15 E Barbour. Subs J Pankhurst, D Houghton-Judge, W Sellick all used as indicated in text.