This week’s opposition were due to be an altogether tougher nut to crack than recent league games.  Crowborough arrived with a strong and physical looking team and Heathfield were looking for a positive start to the game.   Well they couldn’t have been happier when just 5 minutes into the game they turned over Crowborough possession moved the ball out to the backs and Stuart Packham showed his pace racing in from inside his own half to score the first try.   Heathfield continued to pile on the pressure and only a few minutes later the forwards had driven deep into the opposition half, Levi Willis broke down the right wing and provided a soft inside pass for Simon Green to go in for his first try.  Just after this Crowborough had to go to uncontested scrums after losing their prop, which, under league rules means they automatically give Heathfield 10 points.

This appeared to disrupt Heathfield and there were no further scores before half time.  The game stayed quite scrappy in the first 20 minutes of the second half, however Heathfield managed to get more points on the board when Mikey Brown still rolling back the years took a quick tap penalty squeezed through some ineffective tackling and laid the ball off for Mike Jacques to score under the posts.  Sam Goatcher converted.   Heathfield had to work hard though and Crowborough managed to gain momentum by a series of good forward play and Heathfields indiscipline in conceding penalty after penalty.   Ultimately the pressure told and they scored under the posts, the try was converted. 

This appeared to be a wake up call to Heathfield and the final 20 minutes saw them play some of the best rugby of the game.  The forwards direct running put them over the gain line and fine handling and support play especially from Chris Ambrosino, Simon Green, Jack Bayley and Jim Cummings began to take toll of the Crowborough defence.  After an excellent return from a Crowborough kick by the Heathfield backs Simon Green provided excellent support and a powerful run to score his second try.  Just after that Nick Evans managed to squirm over from about 2 feet out for the final try of the game, Goatcher converted.  

An excellent result, this sees the development teams third league win on the run.   Man of the match goes to someone whose powerful defence play and immense work rate earned him 2 tries today, Simon Green.   

Report by Shaun Hipgrave

11/10/2007 4:10:25 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)