This Heathfield side have never beaten Hove but all that changed at Cross-in-Hand on Sunday.

Heathfield took the lead after 10 minutes with a well taken penalty by Mike Abbott but neither side were able to dominate and the game was a very stop start affair. However mid way through the half, the ball travelled down the Hove backs and following a few weak tackles they went over to take the lead. The conversion was kicked to make the score 3-7.

Heathfield rallied and started to string some phases together. Every time Hove gained possession, the back row of Ben Darcy, Matt Halls and Greg Salmon got amongst them, causing problems and Hove were unable to get any continuity.

The rucking of the home side was also excellent, particularly Larry Platt, Tom Watkins and Alex Scott who turned over the visitors on several occasions. Hooker Tom Keylock also had an excellent game, on any loose ball.

From a ruck on Hove's 22, a cleverly orchestrated backs move saw centre Charlie Dagwell burst onto the ball and dive over. Abbott slotted the conversion. Heathfields tails were up !  Minutes later, following great aggressive tackling by Halls, Hove conceded a scrum close to their line. Captain Darcy passed to right wing Ash Sutton who dived in at the corner.

Just before half time a brilliant drop goal by the Hove fly half brought the score back to 15-10.

It was all Heathfield in the second half though with strong running and excellent hands particularly by Wings Wayne Granich and Sutton, saw good yardage gained. Clever "pick and go's" by Scott, Keylock and Darcy meant that the Hove back row were always occupied and this gave the Heathfield backs more time and space. Fraser Rogers came on in the second row and he immediately got into the game by wrapping up one of the Hove centres and carried him 10 yards up the field

A long kick by Abbott forced the Hove defence to kick out and from the resulting lineout another clever move resulted in Oli Hancock with half his own pack behind him, drive him over for a much needed score.

The confidence in the Heathfield side was now for all to see. Another backs move saw Jeremy Burdett side step and jink his way 30 yards right through the heart of the Hove defence and the ruck was formed. The ball was recyled and Larry Platt was on hand to drive over and score the fourth try to earn the much needed bonus point. It also sealed a wonderful win and keeps the Heathfield U16s in the title chase.

Match Report by Bradley Bundett

1/27/2008 5:47:42 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Heathfield traveled to Lewes on Sunday for their third league fixture of the season. Playing without several key players namely their captain Ben Darcy (Sussex rugby match imminent)  Larry Platt (concussion) Greg Salmon (sleeping bag incident !) Dayle Hollands (ankle) Campbell Lacey (wrist).

None the less, these players were ably replaced by Robert Horsfall Turner, Fraser Rogers, Callum Bridges and Alex Scott all of whom had terrific games.

Tom Keylock captained the side and switched to back row and was truly inspirational. He scored one and was everywhere securing any loose ball.

Horsfall Turner who won man of the match, replaced Keylock at Hooker with reunited props Hancock and "Shrek" Watkins won virtually every scrum against a very large Lewes pack. With the Heathfield pack dominating, the backs had a field day. With a total of ten tries scored and 7 conversions it was a rout. Tries coming from winger Ash Sutton, Wade Granich , Peter Phair , Oli Hancock , Tom Keylock  and fly half Mike Abbott . His kicking was excellent also, slotting 6 out of 7 - mostly from wide out, with Jeremy Burdett, whose tackling was outstanding, also kicking 1 nonchalant conversion. Comment must be made about the team work and overall gameplay of the Heathfield team. The game was won in the first 20 minutes with four tries coming very quickly.

Heathfield outplayed Lewes in every department with the scrummage exerting total control, the backs running incisively and all crucial tackles being made. Thanks must go to the large contingent of supporters who were extremely vocal in cheering Heathfield on, creating the atmosphere of a home match. Heathfield made several changes at half time with the match already won, and after 10 minutes of the second half with the score standing at 54 - 0 Lewes decided to end the match. A fantastic result for Heathfield to put them second in the Sussex A league.

11/23/2007 8:27:22 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

5 tries from Heathfield’s backs, 4 of which scored by wingers, was Pulborough’s undoing when they travelled to Heathfield on Sunday for a league encounter.

2 tries by left wing Ash Sutton with very strong running inside the first 15 minutes set the trend, fly-half Mike Abbott converting one from wide out.  Unfortunately, soon after, Heathfield lost flanker Campbell Lacey with an injured wrist.  With centres Jeremy Burdett and Charlie Dagwell looking like they had been playing together for years, the wings were always going to get plenty of ball.  But Heathfield had to work very hard as Pulborough’s strong and well-drilled pack had the lion’s share of the lineout and caused the normally solid Heathfield scrum several problems.  However, from a Pulborough scrum on their own 22, a good squeeze from the home team front five enabled hooker Alex Hope to win one against the head.  Quick ball from Elliot Marshall to Abbott onto Burdett whose timed pass caught Dagwell on a brilliant line to score.   Abbott converted.

Heathfield rang the changes at half time enabling their whole squad to play but it took time for them to settle.  With the back row of Greg Salmon, Matt Halls and Ben Darcy putting the visitors under so much pressure, Pulborough were forced to kick most of their possession away.   The clearing out at rucks particularly by Tom Watkins, Tom Keylock and Larry Platt continued to give the talented backline all the ball it could want. 

So, Heathfield quickly regained their confidence from the first half and more clean possession found the Heathfield backs too hot to handle and a good loop by Abbott made the extra man and Wade Granich was on hand to score in the corner.  Soon after, a tremendous tackle by the Pulborough fullback on Sutton not only saved another certain try but forced Sutton to leave the field and it was the fullback once again who caught a kick deep in his half and ran the whole length of the pitch to score his side’s consolation try. 

Heathfield were not finished, however, and with a minute remaining, a quick pass by Salmon gave Dagwell, now playing on the wing, his second try in the corner to finish the match for Heathfield as comfortable winners.

Man of the match for Heathfield was Jeremy Burdett who had a tidy, good all-round game both in tackling and distribution.

11/4/2007 11:57:43 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

24/9/06

Horsham (a)

01/10/06

Pulborough (a)

08/10/06

Bognor (h)

22/10/06

Shoreham (a)

29/10/06

Hove (a)

5/11/06

Uckfield (a)

19/11/06

Hastings (a)

26/11/06

Horsham (h)

10/12/06

Shoreham (h)

07/01/07

Eastbourne (a)

14/01/07

Hove B (a)

21/01/07

Eastbourne (h)

11/02/07

Hellingly (a)

18/02/07

Lewes (h)

18/03/07

Haywards Heath B (a)

25/03/07

Edenbridge (h)

01/04/07

Hastings (a)

15/04/07

Burgess Hill (h)

22/04/07

League Final (a)

8/3/2006 4:34:22 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

Please send any items for inclusion on the coming season, training times, contact information etc to nick.green@hwrfc.co.uk

7/7/2006 11:04:52 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

Heathfield put out a mainly U16 side with 5 U17s versus a bigger looking Kent side but still put in a convincing performance to run out winners by 5 tries to 1.

With 24 players to choose from it was agreed that the match would be played in 4 x 20 minutes sessions so that everyone got a good run out.  Heathfield started well with a well worked lineout move which saw Sean Dorrill peel round the front to score.  Some indifferent forward play gave the visitors the chance to equalise but some great backs moves saw the flying winger Tom Hollyman crash over in the corner to give Heathfield a 10-5 interval lead in a tight first half.

The second half saw a tactical substitution with Tom “The Hitman” Rickman coming into Hooker and winning some good ball, coupled with excellent lineout throwing gave the home side the upper hand.  Centre Ross Riley extended the lead with a breakaway try after a superb crunching tackle by Baz Hunt and then power house Dan Rumsey crashed over under the posts for Tom Ingram to slot the extra points.

By now the home side were becoming rampant and some great runs were made by the backs with support from the forwards ensuring continuity.  Hollyman scored near the end in the corner to persuade the coaches that he should share the Man of the Match award with Tom Rickman.

The only area of concern were heavy injuries to Dom Hodge and Josh Jackson and both are doubtful as the U16s travel to Worthing for the Sussex 7s next weekend.

Head Coach Dickie Bird said “it was a wonderful performance and augers well for next season when the guys will play a mixture of U17 and U18 fixtures.  It was the first time this season that the backs looked in full control and with Chris Salmon to return as backs coach we should enter 2006/7 full of confidence.

Match report by the ever eloquent Dave Robertshaw.

4/23/2006 12:44:16 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

Sunday saw Heathfield U16s looking for their first win of a difficult season.  Still to find the most effective line up Heathfield played with a reshuffled Back Row and a new role for the ever-svelte "Dainty" Dom Hodge at  Inside Centre.

The first 5 minutes were anxious ones for Heathfield as Crowborough immediately putting them under pressure from the boot of their Fly Half.  Baz Hunt found himself fielding a long kick from near his own line.  He fielded the ball made 5 metres where Crowborough gave away a penalty, Joseph Salmon put into touch just outside his 22.  

The next 10 minutes were  still played mainly in Heathfield’s half but as the game moved on they started to  believe in themselves and with aggressive running from Sean Dorrill,  Ollie Robertshaw, and Otto Tibbles all 3 leading from the front.   Heathfield forced the game into the Crowborough half giving Sean the chance to run in from 15 metres brushing of the attention of 4 or 5 players and score. The ball bounced off the posts from the conversion.

From the restart Heathfield attacked again with impressive driving mauls from the whole pack but with no real profit.  The rest of the half was played in a crotchety fashion with the both sides niggling at each other.  Anthony Hicks came on at Scrum Half to continue hounding Crowborough's opposite number. Crowborough continued to give Heathfield problems but some great tackling by Josh Jackson kept them at bay. 

After a strong half time talk Heathfield started playing with more direction.  With Dom Hodge taking some flat ball on the charge they were making ground on every attack.  Jake Donebar coming on at wing caught a speculative kick from the Crowborough Fly Half and punted the ball straight back giving Jack Layfield the chance to chase and disrupt.  Heathfield kept up the pressure and moved the ball wide to the left giving Jake the chance to run in for his first try of the season, Joseph slotting the conversion.

Crowborough had to face more of the same pressure and after another 5 minutes of good possession and some fine running from James Baurer.  Good possession was rewarded with Ollie Robertshaw was put through to score the third try with the conversion wide.

The last 5 minutes were played almost entirely in the Heathfield half with Crowborough determined to get on the score sheet. Big tackles were put in from Dave Radford and Lee Keylock with the Heathfield pack working hard for the ball for Joseph to kick clear giving the forwards chance to show their dominance in the lineout.

The final whistle blew as tempers frayed with the tension showing from both sides and Heathfield ran off winners 17 - 0.

The Heathfield Man Of The Match was Lee Keylock who put pressured the Crowborough Scrum Half relentlessly and tackled well above his weight and gave great service to the backs.

Tom "The Chairman"  Flory, Joseph "The Hitman" Salmon, Dan "Mr Bling"  Bird, "Dainty" Dom Hodge, Hussein "The Terminator" Nikoui, Josh  "The Tackle" Jackson, Jonathon "Clarkie"  Clark, Jake  "Shouldn't This Ball Be Round?" Donnebar, Josh "The Giant"  Henry, James  "The Speedster" Baurer, Ollie "That's Not My Dad Baiting The Ref" Robertshaw, Otto "Mine Neither" Tibbles, Tom "Thumb" Rickman, Sean "The Machine"  Dorrill, Baz  "The Mop" Hunt, Lee "The Mouth"  Keylock, Dave "Radders" Radford, Anthony "Mr Versatile" Hicks, Jack "The Beanstalk" Layfield 

Report by Chris Salmon

2/5/2006 5:27:37 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)