Hellingly’s 1st team have been run away league leaders of Sussex Two East for the whole season. Most that have played them have lost handsomely and over the whole season thus far Hellingly have only conceded 16 points in all so the task facing Heathfield 3rd team today was always going to be a tough one.
Having said all this Heathfield started brightly and to the visitor’s amazement opened the scoring early in the first half. Some good pressure from centres Nick Seddon and Mike Hole on their opposing numbers forced an error in the Hellingly back line and ever sharp Fly Half Jack Warren chipped the loose ball on smartly twice and had the pace to out run the cover to score. Converting his own try Heathfield lead 7-0.
This early score however lifted the visitors and they soon found their usual rhythm. Hellingly are a well trained first team and this began to show with their impressive set piece (in particular the scrum) and their support lines and off loading. Heathfield missed a couple of first up tackles during this period on some of the big runners and paid the price with three quick scores against them 26-7.
Credit must go out to the home side though because despite this barrage they started to edge back into the game. The defence tightened up and the forwards started to win some ball and a lovely line from Mike Hole found a gap in the stingy Hellingly defence for a second Heathfield score. Again Warren converted making it 14-26.
The second half was a much tighter affair but ultimately Hellingly’s power was too much for Heathfield. Greenies did manage to nearly break the defence again but camped on the Hellingly try line pushing for the score Jack "there goes my man of the match” Bayley had a pass intercepted by the Hellingly centre who ran the length to score.
The final result was 14-52 but that flattered Hellingly really who knew they had been in a game. They will surly be deserved league champions and were a class apart today. However, great credit must go to Heathfield 3rd team who were not disgraced and played well. The tight five including replacements of Jones, Ellis, Powderly, Lewis , Hookway, Wright and Cumming did very well under immense pressure from a pack of forwards that clearly train every week. Warren was alert and kicked well at ten and the centres Seddon and Hole both had a good game. Campbell Lacey also made some excellent tackles on the pacey opposition. The whole team battled to the end and given that Heathfield managed to put 14 points onto Hellingly’s 16 conceded for the year was an achievement!
No one had a bad game but man of the match this week goes to Jim Cumming who carried well throughout and helped shore up the pack in the second half despite his better judgement.
Chris Jones, Dan Ellis, (Albert Wright – 40) Mike Powderly, Kenny Lewis, Paul Hookway, (Oli Goldsworthy – 40), Campbell Lacey, Neil Burfield, Ian Schlieder, Jack Bayley, Jack Warren, Jim Cumming, Nick Seddon, Mike Hole, Henry Armstrong, (Scott Gladwish – 50), Tom Gooders, Dale Blackford.