Sussex Rugby - Heathfield & Waldron RFC - Seaford 1st's 6 Heathfield 1st's 18

	Saturday, November 25, 2006

Seaford 1st's 6 Heathfield 1st's 18

On a day when the rest of the UK is enjoying a day of still calm, you can still expect a steady breeze on the front at Seaford. So a forecast of near-gale force winds made Heathfield regard their visit to Seaford for a Sussex Division 1 match with some trepidation.

Playing into the 30 mph wind for the first half, Heathfield pleased coach Dave Jones by played according to plan. The forwards rucked and mauled effectively with only rare wider movements. Seaford are normally known for their strong pack but on this occasion the younger and lighter Heathfield eight took the game to their opponents and frequently made many yards. Given the conditions the lineout was always going to be difficult and the Seaford ball was often disrupted. However Mark Walker had a complete monopoly of the ball at the front on the Heathfield throw-in to the extent that Seaford gave up trying to oppose him. Heathfield were thus able to set up their driving maul to great effect.

Additionally the green scrummage was the most solid so far this season and achieved three strikes against the head so for a change first phase possession was secure. In spite of the conditions most of the first half was spent in the Seaford half.

Nonetheless the first score came from Seaford after several penalties against the visitors at the breakdown, to the considerable irritation of the Heathfield coach who had wanted his team to reduce their errors in this area. The Seaford kicker showed his familiarity with using the wind and made no mistake from the ten metre line. (3-0)

Heathfield drove back upfield and after a period of pressure were just denied in the right hand corner. Strangely Seaford, instead of using the wind, tried a short 22 drop-out which did not work, Heathfield regained possession and some good handling saw Jo Reilly finish well in the left-hand corner. Bryn Jones’ conversion into the gale was only just wide. (3-5)

Seaford replied with another excellent long-range penalty from just inside their own half (6-5) but this just spurred the visiting pack to even greater efforts and they finally worked Bruce Pestell over for another unconverted try. (6-10)

Seaford missed another penalty opportunity shortly before half-time at which point it seemed that Heathfield had done the hard work and that, using the conditions, they could control the game and build a good score. However a combination of handling errors by Heathfield and the fighting determination of the home team meant that this did not happen. On two occasions, kicks by Heathfield from their own half ended up over the opposition dead-ball line resulting in a scrum back.

Simon Wilson made any number of good breaks and gained many yards throughout the game so he deserved his try that followed another good lineout catch and drive. (6-15)

The game became scrappier as the Seaford pack became more effective and their fly-half made several good breaks. However the green line was not seriously threatened apart from one occasion when the referee erroneously blew his whistle just as Seaford looked likely to score in the corner following a Heathfield fumble. The referee, who otherwise had a decent game, was unfortunately unsighted in respect of one regrettable incident that could have seen the home side reduced to 14 men for at least ten minutes.

In the last few minutes a period of sustained pressure near the Seaford line resulted in a drop-goal for Bryn Jones (6-18) and although the home team kept trying throughout considerable stoppage time the result was no longer in doubt.

Next Saturday (2^nd December 2.15pm) Heathfield entertain Uckfield in what is always a keenly contested game irrespective of the relative league positions. However this year the game could have a major impact on the top half of the table so ‘viewing is strongly recommended.’

Report by Phil Bell

Heathfield:Drinkwater, Reilly, Hole (sub Matt Walker), Damien Pestell, Willis, Jones, Vockins, Burchett, Lawrence, Douglas, Mark Walker, Tonkin, Flood (sub Pritchard), Bruce Pestell, Wilson.

1st XV
11/25/2006 11:33:19 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)

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