Sussex Rugby - Heathfield & Waldron RFC - Heathfield & Waldron 1st XV 27 Pulborough 1st XV 19

	Saturday, February 18, 2006

Heathfield & Waldron 1st XV 27 Pulborough 1st XV 19

This game was played in wet and thoroughly unpleasant conditions but all the players and the referee provided one of the most entertaining matches seen at Cross in Hand for a long time. This was a splendid advertisement for club rugby and both clubs and the excellent ref deserve huge credit.

There were many handling mistakes but both teams attempted to play attacking rugby and although the tackling was fierce the game was played in the best spirits of the game. Heathfield deserved to win because although they were under pressure for long periods they played the most constructive rugby and their young backs always threatened when presented with good ball. Under their patient and skilful coach Dave Jones the Greenies are gaining in confidence and are developing into a well drilled unit.

All bar one of their tries was scored by backs, the exception being a superb solo effort by the ever dependable lock Jim Cumming who jigged and side-stepped his way through the Pulborough side from outside their 22 to secure the match winning try. It was just reward as Jim had previously crossed for a try after a catch and drive from Bruce Pestell. Unfortunately the ref was unsighted.

Pulborough won all the early possession but as soon as the home backs started running some good ball Seb Jones, last seasons Colts captain, finished an excellent move to score a try on his 1^st XV debut. After a slow start Heath kept up the pressure and soon after Cumming’s disallowed try Bruce Pestell, who was outstanding in a much improved pack, won a line out inside the Pulborough 22 for skipper Bryn Jones to cut inside, sell a dummy and score a try under the posts.

The Jones brother’s monopoly on the score sheet was broken when another of Heathfield’s fast improving backs Joe Riley sprinted down the wing from halfway to score in the corner after collecting his own kick ahead. Pulborough replied with a well taken try and the teams changed ends with Heath ahead by 17-5.

The second half produced some robust but always clean rugby with Jack Bailey and Kobe Tonkin always in the thick of things and the evergreen Tim Evans making a number of charging runs. New boy Tom Pritchard standing in at scrum half after an injury to Lee Vockins also showed what an asset he will be to the Greenies. Returning to the scoring it was back to man of the match Bryn Jones to score another try after good work by Damien Pestell who continues to impress now that he is near to top form after injury. Pulborough never flagged and their two converted tries were just reward for a wholehearted performance.

The corner has turned for this Heathfield side. On the evidence of this performance they will be a pleasure to watch and will continue to improve on their position in Sussex Division 1.

Heathfield: Fellows, Marchant (C Jones), Burchett (Everett), Evans, Cumming, B Pestell, Bayley, Tonkin, Vockins (Pritchard), B Jones, Willis, D Pestell, Hole, S Jones, J Riley

Report by: Mike de St Croix

1st XV | Latest News
2/18/2006 9:07:07 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)

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