Sussex Rugby - Heathfield & Waldron RFC - Heathfield Boars 7 Horsham 3rd's 12

	Sunday, February 11, 2007

Heathfield Boars 7 Horsham 3rd's 12

The Boars became the first team from Heathfield & Waldron RFC to appear in the final of a Sussex knock out competition but were not able to become the first side to win one.

The team travelled by coach to Burgess Hill, accompanied by a large party of supporters, determined to win by playing fast open rugby to try and tire a big Horsham pack. Hearts sank a bit when the Burgess Hill pitch turned out to be a quagmire after all the rain and snow of the previous week. These would not be ideal for the type of rugby the Boars wanted to play.

Boars captain Lewis won the toss and chose to play up the slope. From the kick off Heathfield ran the ball and Horsham showed that they were up for it as they defended strongly. Before the match the Boars had been concerned about the front row battle at the scrums but were pleasantly surprised when they coped well with their heavier opponents even when pushing uphill.

It quickly became clear that this was to be a close match. Both sets of forwards worked hard to deny space and time and found that every metre gained would be hard won. Neither side made much ground through the centres as each runner was brought down hard. It was difficult to assess who had the edge out wide as the ball rarely travelled out that far in the difficult conditions. So it was clearly a day for hard work, courage and the elimination of mistakes. It was also a day to have a good kicker and stand off Burdett proved that he could vary his natural running game and gained many yards with his accurate kicks.

After a very even first 10 minutes the Boars began to assert some control on the game and play in their opponents half. After about 20 minutes of the game a rare moment of wing play saw Jack Bayley make good yards up the left, the ball was recycled right and a Horsham player knocked on trying to intercept 15 metres in front of his posts. Heathfield had a steady scrum and from this platform Cook and Jaques broke and this allowed Jaques to dummy past the opposition to score under the posts. Rob Woods kicked the conversion to take the score to 7-0.

Heathfield seemed to relax after this and played better for it. A good break from Cumming almost led to a second score as he was held up close to the line he popped the ball to Parsons who crossed over only to be denied as the ball was held up rather than grounded. A further opportunity was spurned when Heathfield missed a penalty kick attempt and even the ensuing 5 yard scrum failed to yield additional points. The lack of additional points during this 20 minute period of dominance was to cost the Boars dear.

At a lineout the referee called the last play of the half and the buoyant Boars went for a ‘killer’ second score. Sadly this proved an error. Cook charged deep into the Horsham half then tried to pop a pass to a supporting player but the ball went to ground. A Horsham player put a boot to the ball and it landed on the halfway line. Both Horsham and Heathfield had players scurrying for the ball but another Horsham boot as the ball in the Boars 22 and while the footrace was won by Boars winger Hollingdale Horsham got sufficient support there to drive over for a converted try and bring up a half time score of 7-7. This did not reflect the balance of the first half and the Horsham players looked like they had got out of jail.

The second half was the same hard slog as the first with both teams making substitutions as the deep mud sapped the strength and speed from players. Horsham were playing better this period with most of the game being played in the Heathfield half. After 15 minutes they got the break that settled to match. At a scrum on the Boars right Horsham retained their put in, spun the ball to their right past the centres and out to their winger. Heathfield had a good drift defence and 3 Boars had the chance to put in a saving tackle but none stuck and the try was conceded. The conversion kick was missed leaving a 5 point gap.

There was plenty of time left but as bodies tired in the mud the Boars could not play the rugby they needed to produce to break the stout Horsham defence. The forwards battered on their opponents and the backs did their best to pass a greasy ball fast enough to gain some space but to no avail. By the time that the referee announced that it was the last play of the game the Boars did not have the energy or opportunity to mimic Horsham’s success of the first half.

The Boars came off the pitch having given their all. Two errors had been punished in the harshest possible fashion and the Boars half chance had not been taken. This proved the only difference on the day. The Heathfield team and their supporters returned to their clubhouse in good spirits and celebrated the experience of being in a final long into the night.

Man of the match went to the youngest Boar, Mike Jaques, for his hard work in poor conditions topped of by his try. Special commendations go to Jim Cumming and Dave Cook for their immense contribution in the forward battle.

Boars Team – M. MacLeod, J. La Roche (T. Wates – 55), B. Togher, J. Cumming, T. Rose (S. Bayley – 40), J. Parsons, K. Lewis (B. Taylor – 60), D. Cook, M. Jaques, B. Burdett, J. Wates, D. Hesketh, J. Bayley (A. Farrrell – 65), S. Hollingdale (M. McDonald – 40), R. Woods

Substitutes not used J. Geesin, G. Ellery

Report by Mike MacLeod

The Boars
2/11/2007 5:54:48 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)

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