Crawley approached Saturday’s game knowing that so far this season they have not really played to their potential and if ever there was a team that could exploit weaknesses in a teams confidence it is Pulborough. Their direct style of forward driving play may not win Pulborough many fans but it is very effective and with the match kicking off in driving rain and wind it looked like it might be their day.
The large home crowd, including many of Crawley’s sponsors, also braving the horrendous conditions must have been worried when after 15 minutes Crawley had yet to leave their own half as Pulborough piled on the pressure with their pack tearing into the home team. At this point everything Crawley tried seemed to fail and passes missed their targets and kicks went astray. After 20 minutes they could have been 11 points down as Pulborough missed two very kickable penalties and were denied a try by a last minute tackle on the line by Full back Andy Evans. It looked like it was going to be a tough day however just after the 20 minute mark Crawley stole the ball from a Pulborough ruck and moved the ball quickly through the hands to Brian Hinojosa who found a gap and surged through into open space. He drew the full back passed to winger Guy Craddock. With only the winger to beat Craddock chipped over, sprinted past the winger to collect his own ball and scored the opening try.
The score been completely against the run of play but it had the immediate effect of kick starting Crawley into action and from the re-start, while still playing into a driving gale, it was the home team who took the game by the scruff of the neck. Now the passes started to go to hand, breaks started to be made and the Crawley pack started to rumble. It was a complete transformation and Pulborough could not live with Crawley’s intensity. It was not long before Crawley scored a penalty through Sam Basson and a try through Rob Gilliat to go into half time 15 – 0 up.
Despite the strong finish to the half Crawley had been under the cosh for the first 20 minutes and the supporters nervously waited to see how the two teams would come out in the second half. They need not have worried. From the kick off Crawley produced the best the half of rugby they have played this season. As the weather got worst and the pitch got heavier Crawley got better and better and they blew Pulborough away with four more tries, the highlight being two for man of the match Andy Evans. It was superb entertainment when the final whistle went the crowd braved the elements to applaud the home team off. This was easily Crawley’s best performance of the season and with other results again going in their favour they are still very much in the mix at the top of the table.
Next week Crawley travel to Uckfield with Kick off at 2.30pm. |
