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)