You wait nine months for a rugby match - then get an All Blacks thriller

Community rugby was given the green light to return under adapted law changes to make rugby Covid compliant – meaning no scrums or mauls.

On a crisp, blustery day players and officials were excited and nervous before kick-off with the laws and new protocols explained.

Crawley ended 2019-20 as Sussex champions and were favourites, having beaten the All Blacks twice last term.

The game was played over four quarters. The All Blacks squad of 23 included five debutants, four of whom were 18.

Early on Crawley sprayed the ball around without penetration as the black wall stayed strong. The All Blacks were awarded a penalty following a jackal at a Crawley ruck. Fly half Olly Lewis tapped and ran, releasing centre pair John Rainima and Jim Waqanibau, the latter taking the ball into the Crawley 22 where the back row of Christian Jones, Kyle Tucker and Jordan Sayers cleared the ruck for quick ball.

Forward drives by hooker Andy Mackay and second row debutants Harvey Hays and Adam Jackson led to scrum half Massimo Hiller passing wide where No8 Sayers sprinted over in the corner. The conversion was held up but it was 5-0 to the All Blacks. Crawley came back at the All Blacks but wave after wave of Crawley attack was kept out by heroic defence.

The second quarter started well for Crawley who pinned the All Blacks back. They crossed for a score, 5-5.

Both teams showed good hands, pace and guile. A move down the Crawley backline saw their large second row break the first tackle and carry the full-back over for a converted score, 5-12.

The third quarter started brightly for the men in black with the oldest player, prop Paul Hasib, carrying well. Full-back Josh Cooper’s mazy run beat five defenders before he found winger Marcus Chisholm, who was inches from receiving the ball for a certain score.

Then Crawley showed their ruthlessness and took two chances. Both tries were unconverted which saw Crawley end the third quarter 5-22 up.

All-Blacks coaches Owain Jenkins and Tye Matthews called for more direction and passion – and the call was answered.

The All Blacks took the game to Crawley as debutant scrum half Rory Shillaker marshalled his troops before fly half Lewis released his back line. Waqanibau passed to Rainima, who span the ball to winger Tomer Teichmann who flew to score near the posts, where Lewis added the extras, 12-22.

The All Blacks were in the ascendancy with Tucker, Sayers, Cooper and Mackay making ground. Flanker Albert showed a clean pair of heels to score out wide. Lewis added the extras, 19-22.

Another break in midfield saw Rainima collect the final pass to score under the posts for a converted score, 26-22.

Crawley were not done and following a mix-up from the kick by the All Blacks they set up a lineout on the All Blacks’ 22. Quick play by their pacy wingers saw them get their fifth try, 26-27.

With moments left the All Black were awarded a penalty at the restart after Crawley killed the ball. Lewis kicked the ball into the corner where the All Blacks set up a lineout. Sayers ran a front peel at the lineout where he caught ball and powered over the line for the winning score, 31-27.

The All Blacks were ecstatic to beat higher league opposition with five debutants. This looked and felt like rugby and there was l room for all shapes, sizes and ages – the squad included 70kg 18-year-olds and a 130kg 48-year-old.

The All Blacks hope to next play on Saturday, January 9 ahead of a new local cluster league kicking off on January 16 planned to run to May.

If anyone is interested in joining the Sussex All Blacks, email director of rugby Ross Hallifax at [email protected]