When these two teams met before Christmas Crowborough had edged a very tight game by one point so Heathfield travelled to their local rivals determined to avenge this result and they did so in some style.
From the kick off the away side started much brighter and were soon attacking deep in the Crowborough half. There was quite a strong wind that Heathfield were playing into first half and a clever kick by fly half Burdett high into this swirling air held up nicely to allow outside centre Warren to chase, catch and beat the cover defence to score. A tricky conversion was missed 0-5.
Heathfield continued this good start with another quick score. Some smart hands from the Heathfield backs took them back into the Crowborough 22 and under pressure Crowborough conceded a 5 metre scrum. Then the forwards took over and a superb driving scrum edged the home pack back over their try line allowing 8 Ian Schlieder a simple touch down. Warren converted in front of the posts 0-12.
Crowborough’s heads were down, they were falling of tackles and Heathfield looked well in control but then a silly mistake swung the momentum back in favour of the home side. Heathfield were awarded a penalty on the half way line but instead of kicking to touch they opted to tap and go. A pass failed to go to hand and Crowborough pounced on the loose ball to chip ahead and score. The try was converted 7-12.
This raised Crowborough’s spirits and they came back again at Heathfield strongly. However just when they looked to have outstripped the Heathfield defence in the far corner a brilliant cover tackle from full back Jack Bayley some how managed to get under the Crowborough player and hold up the score. This changed the game momentum again and Heathfield cleared and were soon back on the attack. Some great hands from Rob Streeter and Captain Kenney "we will never hear the end of it if he scores” Lewis made yards down the middle of the pitch and then a penalty to Heathfield (this time deep in the Crowborough half) was taken quickly by Jack Bayley to feed wing Mike Shallcross to score. Warren converted leaving the score at half time 7-19.
Second half Heathfield now had the strong wind in their favour and started to kick deep and then pressure Crowborough into mistakes. From such a mistake a scrum five was awarded. The forwards drove for the line sucking in the home defence until the space opened up wide then the backs unselfishly gave quick hands down the line for Bayley to score in the right corner. A really well worked team try. The conversion was missed but Heathfield were now firmly back in control 7-24.
Three more tries ensued. Jack Warren moved to fly half and spotted space inside which he duly took with a nice inside break. Lovely support from sub Oli Goldsworthy gave a scoring pass to Jack Bayley who skinned the cover defence wide 7-29. Centre Wates then hacked a stray ball on and the pace of the Heathfield back line was too much for a now beaten home side. Shallcross stubbed the ball over the line and Warren controlled and scored also converting his own try in front of the posts 7-36. Finally Crowborough kicked into the Heathfield half but wing Goldsworthy collected and countered wide, giving a pass to Kenny "run forest” Lewis in space just inside the Crow half. Thankfully the Captain just about had the legs to make it to the corner and dive over with Warren kicking a very tricky wide conversion leaving the final score 7-43.
Heathfield played four colts in this game that all played well and fitted in seamlessly. No one had a bad game and it was hard to pick out individuals so this week two players deserve man of the match, one forward, one back. In particularly in the forwards Flanker David Bayly had an excellent game listening to his players around him and breaking well several times. Number 8 Ian Schlieder did very well all game upsetting and disrupting the Crowborough playmaker at 10 but the forwards man of the match was Rob Streeter who was technically excellent and involved in almost everything. In the backs Joe Sandford at scrum half in the first half was very solid, Jack Bayley playing out of position at full back was superb and possibly saved the game when Crowborough were finding some heart but the backs man of the match goes to Jack Warren. Again playing out of position first half he hassled and chased everything and was involved in several of the Heathfield scores.
Julian Porter, (Ben Smith - 40), Kieran Farquhar, (James Macnay – 40), Nick Evans, (Mike Powderly – 60), Kenny Lewis, Rob Streeter, David Bayly, Neil Burfield, (Jonny Welch – 50), Ian Schlieder, Joe Sandford, (Will Chipchase – 50), Brady Burdett, (Oli Goldsworthy – 50), Mike Shallcross, Julian Wates, Jack Warren, Dan Ellis, Jack Bayley.