H&B travelled for the first game of the new year, missing a couple of their younger legs but with a Phil Osunsami back on the field.
Crowborough started the game and H&B found themselves having to stay-off a very quick challenge to open scoring, this was repelled having turned the ball and kicked to clear. Within minutes it was H&B's turn to increase the pressure and from a line-out on the right wing the ball was shifted down through the backs Chris Eastwood popping the ball out of a tackle and Nicky Ellis going over in the corning unfortunately dropping the ball before grounding.
H&B kept this pressure on and the pack picking quickly took the ball to the 5 meter line Matt Dawes resenting well and giving and opportunity for Number-8 Brian McNeilly to sneak over the line and open the scoring. 5-0.
Restarting 'Borough found the H&B pack again within 15 meters of their line and driving them back, quick ball to the blind-side and Osunsami danced to the line only to be put into touch less than a meter out.
Crowborough fought hard to get the ball and having turned over knock on giving H&B another scrum and it looked like it would be a re-run of before, until the scrum started to turn and McNeilly had to pick from the back, driving low he went over for try. 10-0.
Crowborough went back hard and the game sat around the halfway line for a while before with conditions keeping movement of the ball slow with both packs having to do most ball carrying, within the H&B 22-line Borough had worked to try and recycle the ball and a H&B hand gave away a penalty, taking it quick again a H&B play took down the Crowborough player and another penalty was given, a warning from the ref, a minute or two later and Crowborough gained a penalty try for the ball being killed, this was converted and the score was 10-7.
H&B kicked off and due to conditions managed to get the ball back quickly, driving deep into the 'borough end
and after getting a rolling maul moving it was lock Matt Dawes that got the break needed and trundled over the line for a try 15-7.
Half-time break came and went, H&B seemed more determined to keep on the attack, the backs had a couple of runs and made ground but it was the mud that was winning the day slowing legs and causing handling errors, one of them gifted the Crowborough winger a run-in to score from 65 meters out again converted 15-14.
From then on it would become an almost total forwards type playing game both backs and forwards picking a driving, rolling mauls and H&B getting the upper hand with a line-out 10meters out prop Duncan Dobson taking the ball and charging over the line on touched for a try 20-14.
Crowborough looked to regroup but could not contain H&B and they found themselves within scoring distance again, Flanker Gus Godden jointing the backs and carrying over in the corner. 25-14.
Both sides starting to slow it was Ben Murphy that scored having come on with fresh legs to replace Bill Langley off injured taking the score to 30-14.
Crowborough never a side to give up snatched back another try and converted it 30-19.
The end of the game only minutes away, H&B restarted the ball was kicked deep by Borough and H&B gathered to ball bring it back to the centre of the pitch, a break on the right wing Nick Beaney chipping ahead and chasing was Andy Saunders first game this season and he dropped on the ball over the line to score Peter Eames got the extra 2 for converting and the whistle went to end the game 37-19.
