Heathfield U15   10     Vs.     5    Hove U15

This Sunday saw Heathfield U15s first league match of the season, against Hove. This, for Heathfield, was an eminently losable match against a team we just beat in the league last season. This season’s match was to be no different!

Heathfield kicked-off minus the services of Jamie Wardle (broken finger) and Kieran Burdett (ill) and from the outset were under pressure from a fired-up Hove side. Heathfield lost all the early exchanges and spent the first 10 minutes in their own half. Perversely though, it was from rare stolen ball by Heathfield that Hove put the first points on the board!
Jasper Wrenn managed to steal the ball from a maul and gained good yards. However a lack of support meant the ball was immediately turned over by Hove who launched a counter by kicking through. The ball was (again!) allowed to bounce with a posse of Hove players giving chase. Hove won the ball and were able to score an unconverted try fairly easily in the corner.

Some stern words from the captain, and the shock of conceding the try was exactly what Heathfield needed to up their game. Over the next 10 minutes, Heathfield’s forwards steadily gained control of the game and, with Hove conceding a number of penalties, were able to play in the Hove half. Indeed, it was from a penalty for a high tackle that Harry Reilly kicked a penalty to take the score to 5 – 3 to Hove. Heathfield ended the half strongly although they were down on the scoreboard.

Half Time: Heathfield down 5 – 3.

The second half was a tight and tense affair with the Heathfield forwards dominating the breakdowns but the Hove backs making inroads every time they got the ball. Heathfield’s scrum worked particularly well today with the bonus of some good exchanges at the breakdown. This, allied to some fine aggressive play from the centres, meant that Heathfield were always “just one pass away” from making a decisive break. Indeed, some excellent phased play saw Heathfield launch a strong attack on the Hove line. A penalty 10m from the posts was tapped (why? WHY?!!!) with the ball eventually going into touch. A couple of lineouts and scrums followed with Hove absorbing a huge amount of pressure but eventually, Heathfield were able to release their backs to score a converted try under the posts by Henry Jolliffe through a well worked move. Henry was unfortunately injured in the process of scoring and would take no further part in the game.

Hove were now chasing the game at 10 – 5 down but Heathfield managed to retain their shape and frustrate their opponents. It was from a high tackle by Harry Reilly near the half-way line that an impetuous Hove player was sent off. The referee blew for the high tackle and there was a minor scuffle between Harry and the tackled Hove player. Nothing other than handbags! However, another Hove player came running in from 5 or 6 m away and threw a haymaker at Harry which fortunately missed. The referee had no option but to send him off and reverse the penalty.

Heathfield now had the game by the scruff of the neck but credit to Hove, they still played with great vigour and could still have scored but for some great defensive work by the centres Gareth and Fergus.

So, a league win for Heathfield with the players raising their game from the previous match, against a Hove side that could, with a bit of luck, be challenging for honours at the end of the season. Heathfield still have a way to go though to be playing at the level they left off last season and there is much to work on over the next few weeks.

Well played everyone in what was a thoroughly entertaining match. No more like that please as the old ticker was worked very hard!

Full Time: Heathfield win 10 – 5.