Heathfield 3rd team travelled to Haywards Heath on Saturday for a friendly game arranged in the absence of a league game this week. Sadly Haywards Heath’s fourth team had recently dropped out of Heathfield’s league but the home side fielded a team with plenty of numbers and a well matched and competitive game ensued.
With a few of their regular side absent and two players dropping out at the last minute Heathfield travelled with just fifteen but the game gave the side a chance to work on several key areas of their play and as ever the home side asked a few questions of the visitors themselves.
In the first half, playing slightly up hill and into the wind, the Heathfield forwards battled well against a bulky and physical eight from Haywards Heath. The scrum wasn’t going great but again at line out, greenies often nicked or disrupted the home side’s ball. Heathfield looked the more dangerous team but lacked a bit of execution and on a couple of occasions when they had numbers wide, picked the wrong option and ran it back into the hands of the home side’s defence. Tom Keylock at scrum half was playing well and making a nuisance of himself around the base of the scrum and he also made a couple of great breaks only to miss the support runners when a try looked certain. Rhys Evans and Nick “furry” Evans also made some good carries and Ian Schlieder was very vocal and looking to get involved whenever possible.
A nice interchange between Kenny Lewes and Chris Ambrosino at the front of the line out nearly gave Heathfield the first score only for the ball to get knocked on at the last minute.
The home side’s defence continued to hold firm and as the half wore on Heathfield began to play more and more into the hands of the opposition pack, allowing them to slow the ball down and break any rhythm that Heathfield were trying to generate. To compound matters further Heathfield were starting to miss a few tackles and Haywards Heath sensed a chance which they duly took. Overpowering Heathfield’s scrum on their own put in, the home side spread the ball and several missed tackles allowed them in for a try with the last play of the half.
A quick reminder at half time about the game Heathfield were trying to play was all it needed and the second half was a much different affair. The rucking improved and the forwards began to take charge providing quicker ball for the backs to use. Tom Ingram moved to fly half and began to boss his forward pack and scrum half well. Tom Gooders and Peter Snow made some excellent ground and were unlucky not to score. Some good kicking out of hand, particularly a nice chip from Julian “there goes my only good kick of the season” Wates, used the wind and slight slope to Heathfield’s advantage and more often than not made sure the action was in the opposition half. Chris Ambrosino took charge well on a couple of occasions at the breakdown and Tom Ralph was his ever tenacious self in defence but also carried well when Heathfield were on the attack.
Finally the deadlock broke and Heathfield’s pressure told. Holding their own this time at the scrum, which improved massively in the second half, a succession of forward drives finally saw Ian Schlieder crash over from close range. Unfortunately the conversion was missed but the score was now level 5-5.
Whilst Haywards Heath defended stoutly through the second half they didn’t get much opportunity to attack aside from a couple of breaks where Heathfield again, uncharacteristically for this season, missed tackles. A penalty was awarded Heathfield’s way after one of these breaks and Ben Cox launched a superb kick almost the length of the field to give the travelling side an attacking line out ten yards from their oppositions try line. Again good ball was won and more good forward work with a nice drive from Jamie Ward-Smith saw Tom Ralph just held up short. The support was on his shoulder though and Rhys Evans was on hand to scurry over for the winning try. Ben Cox duly converted to give a deserved final score of 5-12 to Heathfield.
Heathfield lost this fixture last season because they did not control the break down and allowed the opposition to slow the ball down. Whilst not perfect, this game demonstrated the rewards that can come from strong rucking and secure attacking ball.
Whilst the backs played well together and enjoyed a lot more possession than in previous weeks, man of the match had to go to a forward for providing this possession in the first place. Rhys Evans made a good case for his all round effort, Nick “Furry” Evans was also a handful around the park and Mike Brown played well in the pack first half and then battled on superbly, despite an injury, to ensure Heathfield had fifteen men to the end. However this week’s man of the match goes to Ian Schlieder not only for scoring the first try and his all round involvement but also for his vocal direction in the second half that helped guide the team in the right way.
Match report by Simon Hollingdale
Team: Chris Ambrosino, Rhys Evans, Nick Evans, Mike Dilley, Kenny Lewis, Ian Schlieder, Tom Ralph, Mike Brown, Tom Keylock, Ben Cox, Julian Wates, Tom Ingram, Peter Snow, Jamie Ward-Smith, Tom Gooders.
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10/17/2009 6:28:48 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00) 
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