Rye 1st XV 0 - Crawley 1st XV 31 (Sussex 1 league)
After last weeks devastating loss, Crawley travelled to Rye this week with the aim of restoring some confidence back into the squad.
The wintery conditions made for a slow start by both sides with a slippery ball and constant handling errors keeping the referee busy. The visitors kept up constant pressure in the Rye half but for twenty minutes were frustrated by the lack of score as many last passes went adrift, but finally from a midfield scrum Huw Bowen was released to score in the corner.
With the dead lock broken Crawley raised their game and by keeping the home team on the back foot ran in two more tries from Ollie Hall, before the half time break and some stern words from the coaching staff.
Starting the half with a more positive approach Crawley began to piece together some good phases of play but the bitter conditions and now driving sleet continued to create many unforced errors allowing Rye back into the game.
It was now Crawleys turn to defend their end and on several occasions battled hard to keep the score against them at zero but from some very positive clearance kicking were soon back in ascendance with a Scott Patto try under the posts.
A fifty metre break down the wing by Matt Lane Miller saw him clear for the final try with conversions from Andy Evans and Alfie Spurgeon bring in the final tally.
This Saturday sees Crawley hosting top of the table Eastbourne in a game Crawley need to win to keep in contention with the leaders in the promotion battle.
Theobald, Manfield, Riley, Gosling, Gilliat, Dean, Morgan-Smith, Hall, Searle, Evans, Hewitt, Moffat, Spurgeon, Bowen, Lane-Miller, Wrigley, Patto, Silver.

CRAWLEY RFC REBUILD ON A HIGH
Crawley RFC is growing strength to strength it what is only the third year of the rebuild of the playing side. Following massive losses in playing numbers to rugby in general and a two league demotion at the end of the season 2011/2012 the future is now looking bright.
In the hands of Jayde Wilkinson in 2012/13 the first team achieved promotion back to the Sussex 1 League and the second team managed to meet a high proportion of its fixtures. The mood of the club improved and numbers started to return to the training park.
2013/14: Steve Silver took over the head coaching role ably assisted by Guy Young and Josh Burt and several other behind the scenes volunteers. The 1st XV reached the promotion playoffs and the second XV met all its fixtures to finish mid table. One of the current seasons objectives were to field a regular third XV and the momentous challenge was finally met this week. Fielding 3 teams for the first time in many years the club had success at all levels scoring 143 points for, with only 5 against.
The numbers attending training usually falls at this time of year, throughout the rugby community, due to poor weather ruining the training pitches, but by hiring facilities in the local community CRFC have increased numbers and the fitness levels and core skills are being raised throughout the club. Training is currently taking place at Holy Trinity School Gym from 8:00pm on Tuesdays and the K2 all weather surface from 7:00 pm on Thursdays. It’s hoped that the current enthusiasm for rugby continues so that the club can return to regularly fielding three sides along with its occasional Vets team. There are even ambitous plans underway to resurrect the unbeaten Crawley Bulldogs from the early 90’s, this was once Crawleys 5th team specifically formed for getting players returning to rugby… a pipe dream??? Only time will tell.
More information can be obtained via the website https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/crawleyrfc

Crawley 2nd XV 75 - Bognor 3rd XV 0 ( Sussex 2 West league)
As the score line shows, Crawley dominated this fast flowing game in a reverse of the early season fixture when Crawley could only field only 14 players. This re-stablished side proved too strong for the visitors who called an end to the match with twenty five minutes left on the clock.
Tries from Mark Stevenson, Ashley Eaton, Chris Barnes, John Doyle, Luke Wilson (2), Josh Rodwell(2) and Man of the Match Ollie Plunkett(3) all sealed the visitors fate with Ross Keeley successfully converting ten of his eleven kicks.
Stevenson, Eaton, Weeden, Garry, Barnes, Plunkett, Turner, Thompson, Doyle, Dessena, Rodwell, Keeley, Keegan, Wilson, Ives, Garry.

Crawley 3rd XV 39 – Barnes Green 5 (Friendly – Sussex 2 level)
In a momentous first for several years the 3rd team took to the field in a friendly match against league rivals Barnes Green. The poor weather condition did nothing to hamper the enthusiastic approach and some good rugby was witnessed.
The home forwards dominated the scrum enabling good possession and some fine running rugby from the backs. Notable performances from Andy Rychlowski, Alan Maybank, and fly-half Neil FitzPatrick in his return to Crawley colours after several years overseas.
Wilson, Cotton, Ferrier, Taylor, Spurgeon, G Craddock, Maybank, McGurran, C Craddock, Fitzpatrick, Sykora, Simmons, Rychlowski, Floume, McKenzie, DeAth, Wolthers.

Crawley Colts 34 - 7 Midhurst
Eager to complete a winning set of fixtures at the club this weekend, Crawley played host to Midhurst in their friendly u17s league fixture,
Midhurst however had not read the script and had certainly came to play, dominating the first five minutes, good ball retention and turnovers , it meant Crawley had to wake up to survive, but despite giving away territory , Midhurst couldn't cross Crawley's line, and slowly Crawley began to build. A little continuity and Crawley soon struck with Kristian Dean scoring after 16 minutes and Fraser Thompson converting, and with Crawley continuing to play rugby in the right areas, Kristian Dean scored his brace on 29, and Craig Mansfield claimed reward for the forwards scoring a minute before half time.
The second half saw Crawley begin using their now habitual game plan of letting their opposition into the game, Midhurst strung together the phases, and their talented backs kept making the yards to pin Crawley into their 22. Crawley held out for fifteen minutes but the pressure told and Midhurst broke the defence to score a well earned try. Regrouped and hurting Crawley started to regain control assisted in part with a dogged determined run from Fraser Thompson to break a scrambled defence and open Crawley's second half account, buoyed by the score, again Crawley gained momentum, Connor Pratt diving over after 64 minutes after continued forward pressure, and Lucas Black sealing the game with classic power wingers run, scoring under the posts with Fraser Thompson converting.
Whilst not a vintage performance, Crawley did enough for the five point win , whilst knowing they had plenty more to give.

Team, Lewis,Scotherm,Monella,Howell,Potts,Moore,Coy,Mansfield,Pratt, Lumley, Black,Spencer,Dean,Thompson,Gardiner,Spence,Kett.

Sutton & Epsom 27-34 Crawley U15

Report to follow.