NEWLY-PROMOTED Crowthorne put in a brave display but ultimately slipped to a 26-17 defeat at home to Milton Keynes in their opening BB&O Premier game of the season.

The visitors were relegated from Southern Counties North at the end of last season and dominated possession at Arborfield Garrison early on, although Crowthorne also showed some encouraging signs of their own.

However, the first try at the New Nest came after 16 minutes through a quick tap penalty out wide on the right with the ball moving through the MK sides hands for a well-executed try wide out on the left.

Not intimidated by this, the Crows immediately went on the offensive and asked some questions of the strong, well-organised MK defence, and but for a couple of bounces would have got rewards for their toil.

But they did take the lead on 22 minutes through the quick thinking of debutant scrum half Tom Dawkes. He set the team off on a quick tap penalty just inside the MK 22 with the ball moving left to No. 8 Matt Elsbury, who scored close in, enabling Doug Charman to convert to put the hosts ahead.

This lead was extended on 32 minutes when Charman converted a penalty after he was brought down from a high tackle that could have led to the first card of the season.

The visitors were clearly rocked but managed to gain control of the ball to exert some pressure of their own at the end of the half.

Cards did come firstly for the MK scrum half for too much talk to referee Nick Curtin and four minutes later after Elsbury was adjudged to have not retired 10m at a penalty inside the Crows’ 22, stopping a try-scoring opportunity.

MK managed to bulldoze over from the resulting penalty to take the advantage into half-time.

Crowthorne made a change in the three quarters as Brad Mills was introduced to replace Josh Roberts who had taken a couple of heavy hits in the first half.

This change, however, was short-lived as Mills went crashing through the MK defence, only to be brought to the floor where he twisted his right knee which prematurely ended his afternoon and saw Roberts plunged back into the fight to carry on his mature assured debut.

An opportunist try from lock Sean Lea, which was again converted by Charman, saw the Crows continue to push their opponents, but the visitors’ superiority saw them push the scoreboard on with a trio of easy kickable penalties and another try.

The Crows acquitted themselves well but fell short of a losing bonus point, however they have much to be proud of against a strong Milton Keynes outfit.

Crowthorne will aim to secure a first win of the season when they entertain last year’s foe, Risborough, at the New Nest on Saturday (3pm).