Heathfield consolidated their position at the top of London SE3 with a thirteen tries to nil victory over a game but limited Whitstable. There was little doubt about the result after two tries in the first few minutes. Matt Skinner was involved in both, first following a high kick and pressurising the visiting full back resulting in quick possession for Sam Thewlis to touch down the first of his three tries on the day, and then Skinner scored himself with a clean break in the centre (14-0). Skinner also collected nine conversions in the match.
The green pack secured majority possession with a dominant scrummage, secure lineout and effective work at the breakdown although the Whitstable blind side flanker was one of their few successes on the day making several turnovers. Rob Perry at scrum half had an armchair ride behind a dominant pack and set the back line moving well. Bryn Jones had his first full game back for the first team returning after injury and marshalled affairs excellently to enable the pace and skill of Tom Sheffield and Skinner to overwhelm the visiting defence. In the current jargon, the backs executed well.
Quick clean possession and fast hands provided two tries for Thewlis, one for Seb Jones and one for Sheffield. All were converted to give the half time score of 42-0.
The outcome of the league could yet depend on points difference so it was important for Heathfield to keep concentration and avoid the temptation of showboating when in a dominant position. Early on in the second half Perry went close in the left hand corner with some neat footwork but soon after Ollie Smith was more successful with one of his characteristic bullocking runs (47-0). Sheffield’s pace was causing severe problems for the defence and he soon touched down twice more to give him three on the day (59-0).
Angus Taylor now made his debut appearance for the first team as a blood replacement for Bruce Pestell and then permanently for George Leney, continuing the successful introduction to this level of game of young players from the development squad. Chris Watton replaced Jim Davies for the last quarter. Davies was penalised twice early on in the scrum although he was well in control. His conversation with the referee continued in the clubhouse later.
Ollie Robertshaw now collected an inside pass from B Jones and brushed several defenders aside on his way to the try line (66-0). With ten minutes remaining the referee awarded a penalty try following green scrummage pressure on the Whitstable try line. S Jones then collected his second try on the day and his brother B Jones capped a fine individual performance breaking through several tackles to complete the scoring (83-0). Whitstable kept trying but with minimal possession and outpaced in the backs they never looked like scoring. An impressive quietly authoritative referee and two generally well-disciplined sides were reflected in a very low penalty count.
This Saturday (27 Feb 2.30) Heathfield travel to Crowborough for what is likely to be a close encounter.
1st XV | Latest News
2/20/2010 10:10:10 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00) 
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