Heathfield put out a mainly U16 side with 5 U17s versus a bigger looking Kent side but still put in a convincing performance to run out winners by 5 tries to 1.

With 24 players to choose from it was agreed that the match would be played in 4 x 20 minutes sessions so that everyone got a good run out.  Heathfield started well with a well worked lineout move which saw Sean Dorrill peel round the front to score.  Some indifferent forward play gave the visitors the chance to equalise but some great backs moves saw the flying winger Tom Hollyman crash over in the corner to give Heathfield a 10-5 interval lead in a tight first half.

The second half saw a tactical substitution with Tom “The Hitman” Rickman coming into Hooker and winning some good ball, coupled with excellent lineout throwing gave the home side the upper hand.  Centre Ross Riley extended the lead with a breakaway try after a superb crunching tackle by Baz Hunt and then power house Dan Rumsey crashed over under the posts for Tom Ingram to slot the extra points.

By now the home side were becoming rampant and some great runs were made by the backs with support from the forwards ensuring continuity.  Hollyman scored near the end in the corner to persuade the coaches that he should share the Man of the Match award with Tom Rickman.

The only area of concern were heavy injuries to Dom Hodge and Josh Jackson and both are doubtful as the U16s travel to Worthing for the Sussex 7s next weekend.

Head Coach Dickie Bird said “it was a wonderful performance and augers well for next season when the guys will play a mixture of U17 and U18 fixtures.  It was the first time this season that the backs looked in full control and with Chris Salmon to return as backs coach we should enter 2006/7 full of confidence.

Match report by the ever eloquent Dave Robertshaw.

4/23/2006 12:44:16 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

There is another 7's training session on Monday 24th April, at the Club, starting at 7pm.

For more info please contact Dave Jones via the contacts page.

4/21/2006 1:47:45 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

There are two games tomorrow, both at home.

The 1st's are playing Eastbourne 2nds with the Boars taking on Worthing 5th's at Waldron. Both have a kick-off of 3pm.

4/21/2006 11:47:36 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

You are invited to celebrate the playing career of Rob (Rolo) Streeter on Saturday the 6th May at Heathfield & Waldron RFC.

For the past 25 years (plus) Rob has shown great commitment to the Club both on the pitch where he has been an ever present member of the 1st XV and off the pitch where amongst other things he has supported a large number of social events!!, and carried out with great energy and humour any task that has been placed before him.

It is only right and proper that his efforts be rewarded with a day of celebration and that all his friends should be there to say thank you.

The day's events will commence at 1500 with a match against an invited Sussex Clubs XV. The Heathfield team will comprise of old team mates of Rolo, some very old!!

Following the match all will retire into the marquee for a meal, drinks, speeches, anecdotes, drinks, singing, and much entertainment long into the evening.

Tickets cost £25.00 and are available over the bar from Dave Crowe or from Ian Jenkins on 07776 141852 or Paul Jarvis on 07770 915774

Please reserve your ticket ASAP so we can organise the catering.

Ian Jenkins

Club Captain

4/15/2006 12:35:05 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

Come and join us and have some fun raising money for Cancer Research – our target is to raise £1,000. To achieve this we ideally need a group of at least 25-30 ladies so please don’t be shy, come along and help us reach our target. This is a joint effort between the Heathfield/Hellingly/Uckfield & Hastings Mums; if anybody has any spare boots please bring them along.

For further information and sponsorship forms please contact Andy Baurer on 0774-0162367

UPDATE 14/04/06

This event is now taking place on Saturday 20th May at Heathfield & Waldron RFC. Timetable for the day is as follows;

c1500/1530 U14 game (s) vs Worthing & Lewes

c 1545/1615 U17 Girls game vs Worthing

c 1700 Mums Charity Rugby Match

c 1800 BBQ

c 1900 Disco/Karaoke

Tickets for the event are anticipated to cost £3/£5. It is not too late for any Mum's to take part in the event; for further details please contact Andy Baurer on 0774-0162367

4/14/2006 6:46:22 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

The first Senior 7's training session takes place next week at the Club, Monday 17th April, at 7pm.

If you would like to play 7's for the Club this year please attend; further sessions are likely to take place leading up to the Uckfield 7's on 30th April.

For more info about playing 7's please contact Dave Jones via the contacts page.

4/11/2006 6:11:49 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

Boars

End of Season

Dinner

Your are boaringly invited
to the end of season dinner at
Heathfield and Waldron Rugby Club House

Three course curry dinner
plus port and prize giving
Subject  to numbers additional entertainment may be provided

Friday 21st April 2006 at 7.30pm

Cost £15
Cash up front please so we can buy the swill

Mike MacLeod 07956622925

 or

Steve Lester 07802947013

4/11/2006 8:34:51 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

Latest winners are as follows. Drawn by Nick Green.

February 2006

£50 Dave Smith

£25 David Langdon

£10 Paul Jarvis

March 2006

£50 Mike MacLeod

£25 Duncan Hesketh

£10 Geoff Green

To join the 50 Club please email Geoff Green on gjr.green@virgin.net

Winnings will be available from the Club Steward Dave Crowe from this coming Saturday.

4/10/2006 1:00:37 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

Heathfield convincing winners in local derby

This local derby match was charged with nostalgia and tension before the game and there was a wonderful festival atmosphere at Cross in Hand for the final League match of the season.  The occasion was blessed with fine weather and supporters of both clubs turned out in force to support their clubs.

For Heathfield their veteran skipper Rob Streeter was leading the Greenies for the last time and popular prop forward Lewis Marshall was also playing his last game before hanging up his boots. Strong running winger Levi Willis is also likely to have played his last 1^st XV league game for Heathfield whose supporters will remember his countless trademark big hits in defence as well as numerous important tries over the years. Uckfield were celebrating their first ever trophy victory,The Sussex Shield, and the start of their 40th birthday campaign.  The Rugby lived up to the occasion especially as far as Heathfield was concerned and the loyal home fans were treated to the side’s best display of the season.

After surviving early pressure on their own line Heathfield gained good ball and Bryn Jones cleared upfield with a huge wind aided punt.  Having established themselves in the Uckfield half Heath were rewarded with a penalty in mid field. Quick thinking by the excellent Lee Vockins from a tapped penalty saw the ball switched to big Jim Cumming who pinned back his ears and charged at great speed like an enraged Rhino in the direction of the try line.  His determination was clear as was the fact that none could or wanted to stop him.  His early try was crucial for his team and put Heathfield 5-0 ahead after 10 minutes. 

Heathfield had started at a furious pace with forwards and backs combining and the pack having by far its best game of the season.  Needless to say skipper Streeter was in the thick of all the action, leading by example and looking more like a skittish twenty year old than a founder club member playing his last game.

The Greenies continued to dominate in every phase and another evergreen youngster Lewis Marshall picked up near the Uckfield line and forced his way over near the posts. His team mates were delighted. Lewis is a great team and club man, quiet and gentle off the field but dynamic on it. He has served Heathfield superbly in the front row and he will be greatly missed.  Surprisingly Bryn Jones missed the conversation but did convert another excellent forwards try by Bruce Pestell a few minutes later. Jones put Heathfield further ahead and into a twenty point lead with a well struck penalty just before half time.

As often happens the superior side on the day also enjoyed a fair degree of luck. Having enjoyed the wind behind them in the first half, Heath were delighted to notice a mellowing of the elements as the teams turned round so that they only faced a light breeze compared with the gale Uckfield had to counter in the first half.

Heathfield brought on their subs at half time and continued to tear into their opponents immediately after the restart.  The Greenies were playing for their skipper, their coach and the pride of their club and there was never any doubt that they were going to win and win well. As Rugby people would say “on the day they wanted it more than their opponents".

Against some spirited defence by Uckfield the home side had to be patient to wait for the try that finally clinched Victory.  When it did come it illustrated just how much Heathfield have improved in the past few weeks under the skilled and patient coaching of Dave Jones.  Good fast second and third phase possession was secured by Heaths splendid pack and the ball was passed down the line.  Unable to burst through the centre to create an overlap ,Guy Woods placed a deft and sweetly struck grubber kick right into the left hand corner, all Sam Thewlis had to do was follow up at speed and fall on the ball to seal a well deserved victory.

Heathfield’s best win of the season was very much a team performance with the entire squad shining on the day.  The tackling was outstanding and the amount of turnover ball achieved was testament to the courage and fitness of Dave Jones’s squad.  The play of younger players like Tom Pritchard and Matt Walker shows great promise for next season while Lee Vockins had his best all round performance for the club at scrum half.  Damien Pestell and Bryn Jones again showed what powerful and skilful three-quarters they are while the experienced Guy Woods proved what a difference he makes to the side when he is injury free. 

Two players stand out as players of the season. Both are back row forwards by choice.  One is ending his 1st XV career and the other should be shining for the club for many years to come .Congratulations to Rob Streeter, who has given so much to Heathfield, and to Bruce Pestell who has played superbly in every league match.  Congratulations also to Coach Dave Jones and to Director of Rugby Mark Hassall.  This was a great day for the Greenies.

Heathfield; Marshall, Burchett (Marchant 40), Evans, Cumming, Streeter, B Pestell, Pritchard, Tonkin, Vockins, Jones, Willis (Walker 40), Woods, D Pestell, Hole (Riley 40), Thewlis

Report by: Mike de St Croix

Hopefully this one went over the Uckfield jumper!

2nd row Jim Cumming and centre Guy Woods come off the pitch.

Club Captain Ian Jenkins congratulates Rob Streeter on the victory.

Bruce Pestell, Rob and Bryn Jones

Rob, Guy and Bryn.

Lewis Marshall and Rob Streeter...

"We're too old for all this..."

Thanks to Debbie Green for the photos

4/8/2006 12:45:04 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

Boars Win Decider

A free weekend allowed these two Division 3 east side met for the third time this season only two weeks after their last battle. As the honours had been shared in the regular season this would be the match that settled the 'bragging rights' for the year.

Both sides were missing several regulars but Hellingly seemed to hurt more as they only fielded 13 players until a latecomer turned up at half-time. The Boars decided that it was sporting to leave well alone as Hellingly were due to play down the Waldron slope in the first half and the 'man mountain' Ripley was in their side.

The tone for the afternoon was set at the first scrummage when Heathfield were buckled and pushed back 5 yards on their own put in. Hellingly had brought a real front row to this contest and it showed. Hellingly's early pressure paid off when they scored a converted try after about 10 minutes. This woke the Boars up and Andy Feaver in his first game of senior rugby collected a kick and ran 30 metres before being hauled down. This set up good field position and that pressure led to a try by Guy Ellery. Kenny Lewis hit the post with the conversion attempt.

The Boars then had a period of good play that saw them extend their lead. A maul on the Hellingly 10 metre line saw Mike MacLeod in the unusual role of scrum half get a pass away to Brady Burdett who drew two men to him before offloading to the genuine scrum half, Dave Rhodes, who was moonlighting as a centre. Rhodes ran a lovely angle to break the defensive line and then beat the full back for pace to score near the posts. Lewis converted easily.

About this time the pressure in the scrums took its toll on Steve Lester who went off with a calf injury to be replaced by 64 year old Brian Burdett. For some reason the scrums went uncontested and Brian went to full back with Paul 'What am I meant to do?' Squires trying out as hooker.

After all this fun it was no real surprise when Hellingly levelled the scores when Luke barged 10 metres through several weak tackles to score in the famous 'bottom right hand corner'. This try was not converted and the half ended tied at 12-12.

Heathfield came out the traps very quickly as Hellingly failed to deal with the high restart kick and Guy Ellery nipped in to score his second try which was easily converted by Lewis. Again Hellingly came back with good forward work driving them into the Boars 22-metre line where they were awarded a penalty. A quick tap found the Boars defenders slacking and a gap was found for a converted try to be scored.

Each side scored two more tries and tellingly Kenny Lewis kicked both conversions while his opposite number missed his kicks. Tom Faulkner-Bryant took the first of the Heathfield tries with a strong run past the full back and scored under the posts after Mike Barber had cunningly switched the play back inside.

The best try of the day was saved to last when the 'first time hooker' Paul Squires did what he was told by Brady Burdett and ran an inside line to take Brady's offload and make 22 metres before scoring between the posts. This was Paul's first try since converting from Australian Rules Football less than a year ago. Good on ya Cobber!

So the Boars have the bragging rights and Hellingly have the "If only we had played a full side it would have been different" defensive retort. All in all this was a very good end to a very good series of matches.

Squad - M. MacLeod, A. Sutton, S. Lester (B. Burdett snr - 30), B. Togher , S. Walker, B. Taylor, K. Lewis, T. Faulkner-Bryant, D. Rhodes, B. Burdett, M. Barber, G. Ellery, A. Feaver, M. Gardiner, P. Squires

Report by: Mike MacLeod

Steve Lester goes airborne!

Kenny Lewis lines up a conversion

The teams battle for lineout possession

Boars Kenny Lewis, Paul Squires and Mike MacCleod

Mike MacCleod, Mark Gardiner and Brian Burdett

4/8/2006 12:43:47 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

If anybody has match details of this game, try scorers etc please send through to nick.green@hwrfc.co.uk for inclusion.

4/8/2006 12:42:38 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)