Hove vs. Crowborough

Hove entertained fellow Sussex outfit Crowborough on the ‘official’ opening of the new pitches. With rain lashing down in the morning, the taps finally turned off around an hour before kick-off to provide near perfect conditions for rugby.

Hove kicked off with a slight breeze behind them and after a fumble from a Crowborough forward led to a 5m attacking scrum, Hove were quickly into the ascendancy. From the solid platform Hove crashed Martin Macdonald up in the centres and after a couple of pick and go’s from the forwards, Crowborough gave away a penalty at the breakdown. Turning down the banker three points, Hove upped the tempo in search of the first try of the afternoon and it came as Martin Macdonald found himself as an extra man in the wide channels. Conversion missed by Phil Dugard and Hove had the perfect start; 5-0.

After the early setback, it was Crowborough who started to get into their patterns. Strong carries from their tight five forwards were met with solid defence by the Hove ‘wolfpack’ of Peake and Silcocks. Any half chances Crowborough had were sniffed out by the great scramble defence. The second Hove try came after Sam Whiting fielded an attempted cross field kick and shrugged off the Crowborough attention. As the ball was recycled through backs and forwards alike, Martin Macdonald was on hand to finish off for his second of the day as Hove doubled their points tally 10-0.

Crowborough continued to come at Hove and at times made good ground through their strong 12 and lumpy second row, however unforced errors limited any real scoring opportunities. A third Hove try went begging after Ian Saunders threw the final pass straight over the touchline to groans from the Hove faithful. The third try did come before half time after a backs move straight off the training paddock. Declan Peake found Morgan Griffin at the back of the lineout which provided the necessary quick ball for Bryn Garrish to use all his footwork on the way to a great individual score. Rob Biggs adding the extras as Hove went in at halftime 17-0 to the good.

As the Crowborough side tired, Hove were able to break at will from deep inside their own half. Ryan Morlen then got the bonus point try after slicing through the centres and outpacing the covering defence. A second try soon followed again from a break inside Hove’s half and quick hands from Phil Dugard released Guy Patton. Rob Biggs on target with the shot at goal as Hove led 29-0.

The best try of the game was to come, after Jack Silcocks won a penalty at the breakdown, his quick tap found Sam Whiting. A good tackle looked to have put Whiting into touch, however an audacious offload found Ryan Morlen and he offloaded to Whiting again who found Sam Bath on his shoulder to go in at the corner. Rob Biggs knocked over the touchline conversion and Hove now led 36-0.

Hove continued to attack from everywhere with the workmanlike Rob Ward always offering himself as a supporting runner. Rushed offloads in contact went to ground however stifling Hove from extending their lead. Hove’s seventh and final try did come after a great break from Rob Biggs found Guy Patton on his shoulder to go in just to the right of the sticks. Rob Biggs adding the extras to his earlier assist with Hove now up 41-0.

Credit to Crowborough as the final ten minutes they camped themselves in Hove territory looking to avoid a whitewash. Young Kyle Woollard however showed his strong defensive abilities by putting in some great shots to limit Crowborough’s gain line success. After a number on penalties were given away by Hove at the scrum, James Cull paid the price with ten minutes in the bin. With Hove desperate not to concede, the pressure finally told after as their second row crashed over. The extras were added just before the final whistle and Hove had earned their first bonus point win of the season 41-7.

A great team performance from Hove, instigated by the defensive efforts of the forwards and the attacking threat of the backs. Hove travel to Old Alleynians next week with both sides winning their respective home fixtures last year.

Man of the Match went to Ryan Morlen.

Hove: Cull, Peake, Wallace, Saunders, Woollard, Ward, Silcocks, Griffin, Biggs, Dugard, Patton, Macdonald, Morlen, Garrish, Whiting © Subs: Dibsdall, Imasuen and Bath.