Heathfield traveled to Pulborough on Sunday and for the first time in weeks played on a large and very dry pitch, ideal for the running rugby.
Pulborough had a very good start however. Playing down the slight slope and with the wind, in the 1st half, pinned the visitors in their own 22. Releaving kicks by fly half Mike Abbott would not go far against the wind and Pulborough were able to maintain the field position.
Five minutes into the game, from a lineout close to Heathfields line, Pulborough worked a clever move and scored. But to their credit Heathfield didn’t panic and resorted to some good driving play up field. The backs were then used to good effect and gained more ground finishing close to the Home teams line before being bundled into touch. From the ensuing Pulborough line out, the ball went straight over the back to the ever ready flanker Matt Halls. He sped through the large gap and dived over to tie the scores.
The rest of the half was basically a defensive one on Heathfields part, but Pulborough were beginning to tire having expended large amounts of energy trying to keep the upper hand and the pressure had been comfortably dealt with.
It was a different story in the second half with good driving play by the Heathfield forwards, particularly captain Angus Taylor and prop Tom Watkins. Once quick ball was created, the ball was spun with Inside centre Leon Collen eventually getting on the end of a fine move to score under the posts, with Abbott converting.
Heathfields line out was securing some good quick possession from Fraser Rogers and Alex Scott and this ball was invaluable to the visitors and they used it to good effect
The 3rd try was the score of the match involving great interpassing between backs and forwards, with the wall being moved to the far left wing, being recyled and finally going down the backs again and wing Luke Hannah having far too much pace on his opposite number and he scored. Abbott slotted the conversion beautifully from wide out.
The backs were having a field day now and Full back Jeremy Burdett got in on the action. He was involved twice in the move before the ball found scrum half Callum May to round off the game. Pulborough pulled a try back just before the end to make the score respectable but the half had belonged to the visitors.
All in all a very good performance by the Heathfield side just beginning to find its shape.
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12/21/2008 1:32:39 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00) 
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