Hove vs. Crowborough (A)

At the third weekend of asking the go ahead was given to fulfil this fixture at Steel Cross. Hove were frustrated not to get the result last week and played some great running rugby and with Crowborough on somewhat of a change in fortunes since the shakeup in coaching staff, it had the makings of a strong Sussex derby.

Crowborough started on top slowing the ball down at every breakdown to allow their forwards to make inroads into the Hove half. The ball was then moved wide to the space freed from where Hove had over committed and scored the first points of the afternoon: 7-0.

Hove were struggling to come to terms with the referees interpretation at the breakdown and any attack was blunted for indiscretions at the ruck. Hove eventually got on the board with a Galindo penalty, before Crowborough dotted down again after some poor Hove tackling resulted in a score out wide. The home side were not done yet as despite some resolute Hove defence on their own line, the ball was again spun out for the score. This completed proceedings for the first half 17-3.

Hove came out the blocks the better side after not really getting a foothold in the previous half’s proceedings. They were rewarded with their efforts as Sam Whiting made a break in the outside channels before drawing the full back to put Martin Macdonald in. Galindo again on target with his shot at goal to close the gap to 17-10.

That was as good as it got for Hove as Crowborough dominated proceedings thereafter. Again slowing the ball down and playing in the tight reaped rewards for the home side as after the first wave of attack was held up, the resultant scrum resulted in the Number 8 going over; 24-10.

Crowborough then scored two more tries to deny any hope of a Hove comeback, both of which were converted to extend the home sides lead to 38-10. As the clock turned red, Martin Macdonald picked up from the base of the scrum and in trying to find the support, only found a Crowborough players hands who ran in unopposed, summing up Hove’s day at the office.
By far Hove’s worst performance of the season without a shadow of a doubt, but every team has their off days. A line can be drawn under this before the tough away fixture at Old Colfeians next weekend.

Hove: Wallace, Peake, Shergold , Saunders, Knott, Phillips, Silcocks, Griffin, Robertson, Galindo, Macdonald, Dugard, Morlen, Garrish, Whiting © Subs: Parraga, Marshall and Biggs.