CROWTHORNE RFC put in a fine performance but conceded two injury-time tries to be held to a 35-35 draw in a thrilling Berkshire derby with Slough, writes Richard Ashton.

The early exchanges of the BB&O Premier clash did not go as planned for the Crows after they were penalised for back chat, allowing the visitors to kick a penalty and go into the lead.

However, Crowthorne began to gain ascendancy in the set-piece, dominating both the scrum and line-out, although they struggled to deal with Slough’s dangerous backline.

The visitors extended their lead with a 16th-minute try, but this seemed to galvanise Crowthorne who immediately hit back with a try of their own.

After some strong forward play from a line-out on the left the ball was driven up field and when it was spun wide, outside centre Rhys Carnie was on hand to get the Crows’ first score which was duly converted by Dougie Charman.

However, two further Slough tries pushed the half-time score out to 18-7 and it looked as though the home side were being outclassed.

A couple of changes to the Crows line-up during the interval saw a change of impetus and the hosts came out taking the game to their opponents.

Crowthorne dominated the second half with two tries for skipper Sam Short, one for lock George Watson and a second for Carnie, with Charman able to add the extras to all bar one of those scores.

With minutes to play the scoreboard showed 35-21 following a Slough penalty, but the experienced visitors were not done and hit back with late scores in the second and fifth minutes of added time to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat.

Man-of-the-match honours went to Carnie, who despite being injured while scoring his first try, bravely remained on the field before scoring a fabulous solo effort.

The result leaves Crowthorne 10th in the table with four points from their three games.

Crows do not have a league game this weekend but a development side will take on Farnborough in a friendly. Crowthorne return to league action with a trip to Tadley on Saturday, October 10.