After last week’s home walkover against Maidstone, Hove made the short trip inside the county to Crowborough. After coming away with the win in the tight reverse fixture at the Rec, Hove knew what to expect with a large home pack. The rain had left large parts of the pitch very heavy underfoot and this limited the expansive game Hove enjoy playing.

Dec, Tyler and Storer made up the front row. Saunders and Shergold added their weight at 4 and 5. Captain Macca shifted to 7 to allow Rupert Phillips at 8 with Robbo completing the forwards at 6. Big Danny O’Connor started at 9 after an impressive performance last week. Dugard, Whiting and Emmerson complete the midfield with a new back three of Patton, Marshall and Garrish.

Hove kicked off the game and it was quite clear within minutes that any fast flowing rugby would be difficult as the pitch became something of a swamp in the first quarter of the game. Nevertheless Hove dominated the territory and possession and after recognising an overlap on the blind side, the ball was fed wide to Max Marshall who beat his opposite man to score in the corner, conversion unsuccessful. Crowborough 0 Hove 5.

Hove’s elation was short lived, as Crowborough were playing a simple but effective game plan by picking and going from the base of the ruck, it didn’t take long before Crowborough were on Hove’s 5 metre line and they managed to drive over for a try, conversion successful. Crowborough 7 Hove 5.
Some further indiscipline followed by Hove and is wasn’t long before Crowborough were in range of the posts where they opted to go for the points, this was duly converted making the score Crowborough 10 Hove 5.

The rest of the half was played mostly in Crowborough’s territory, Hove had a number of chances to score but continuously let themselves down by either not retaining possession or failing to secure their own ball at the breakdown. Additionally, Crowborough were intent on trying to rile up Hove by shirt grabbing and throwing the occasional punch, this caused the referee to intervene a number of times but naturally it all came to nothing. Hove were clearly starting to get frustrated and despite a number of great carries by Peake and Garrish, Hove ended the half without being able to add to their score. Half time Crowborough 13 Hove 5.

Intent on simplifying their game, Hove came out in the second half and made much better use of the ball. Dugard and Whiting were able to kick Hove into decent territory putting significant pressure on the hosts. It wasn’t long before this paid off, as Crowborough tried a chip and chase which was gathered by MacDonald, Hove recycled and Guy Patton received the ball to ghost through the defenders, conversion successful. Crowborough 13 Hove 12.

Crowborough quickly went back to their simple game plan and managed to make inroads up the pitch, despite some resolute defending with some 20 phases of play and Hove turning the ball over three times (allegedly illegally), the Crowborough replacement 9 managed to break off a scrum and score in the corner, conversion successful. Crowborough 19 Hove 12.

With 20 minutes left on the clock, there was still time for Hove, a horrible clearance by Crowborough allowed Hove to attack down the left side, Pavlides (back from holiday) fed Patton again who managed to muscle his way over for his second try of the afternoon, conversion unsuccessful. Crowborough 19 Hove 17.

Hove had their tales up and were intent on getting another score, but sometimes things just don’t fall into place. Crowborough restarted the game but some miscommunication by Rupert Philips and Sam Whiting meant they both went for the ball; the result was a Crowbrough scrum outside Hove’s 22. Hove subsequently gave another penalty away and the hosts opted for the posts. Crowborough 23 Hove 17. With 5 minutes left Hove battered the Crowborough line, however this came to no avail, eventually Hove were penalised for holding on just shy of Crowborough’s try line. Full time Crowborough 23 Hove 17.

This was a game that Hove could and should have won, but basic handling and lack of execution in the red zone let them down, there was however a number of positives to take. Danny O’Connor played exceptionally considering the conditions whilst Bryn Garrish was a constant threat at full back. In the forwards Hove were extremely effective in their mauling with Declan Peake proving to be a nuisance around the park also.

This week Hove take a break from league action to face Horsham 2’s in the Bob Rogers cup at home.