The two previously unbeaten clubs in Sussex Division 1 fought out this competitive and entertaining game at Cross-In-Hand with the home team emerging victorious after scoring three tries to one.  Plentiful supporters from both clubs enjoyed probably the best game of the season so far, played in an excellent spirit.

Playing into a steady, chill wind in the first half Heathfield were hit by three penalties within 25 minutes, one from the halfway line by the impressive Grinstead kicker.  The visiting three-quarter line was looking fast and dangerous but the home defence was coping and the try line was rarely threatened although most of the play was in the Heathfield half.

The home lineout was an especially strong feature in the first half with Mark Walker outstanding in securing his own ball and frequently disrupting the opposition. Throwing-in was difficult in the conditions but Rob Lawrence was hitting his target consistently and the whole unit was working well.

Heathfield occasionally managed to work their way out of their own half as the pack began to achieve some control and on one of these occasions a penalty near the Grinstead 22 gave Bryn Jones a straightforward three points (3-9).  Entertainingly a couple of the visitors tried to charge down the kick which merely resulted in a Heathfield penalty at the restart on halfway.  The scrummage had been a fair contest but now a strike against the head by the green front row provided a good attacking opportunity although the half ended without any more points.

George Leney was  replaced by Paul Flood who was to make his usual impact on the opposition. Cognoscenti in the crowd, and a few who know about the game, considered that being six points down after playing into the wind was a promising situation.  However shortly after the restart East Grinstead had a lineout in the home 22.  A resulting free kick caught the Heathfield players losing concentration so a Grinstead flanker was able to cross for a try almost untouched.  Inevitably the try was converted so Heath were now 13 points down and a home win looking less likely.

However the home pack was now playing well and some fine positional kicks by Bryn Jones utilising the wind gained many yards.  Much of the play was in the Grinstead 22 and eventually Adam Tennant completed a good passage of play with a finely taken try beating several opponents.

The referee had been consistent all day in penalising both sides for going over the top and other offences at the breakdown: many of these were against Heathfield which often disrupted the increasing pressure on the visitor’s line.  However a period of forward control finally gave Rob Lawrence a chance to wrestle his way over and for Bryn Jones to convert for the 15-16 score-line.

Dan Hunter-Evans now replaced Richard Cooley and Mike Hole came on for Ross Riley who had been making his debut for the first team.  This is the second week in a row that a product of the Heathfield youth teams has been newly selected for the top team.  Heath have so far used 29 players in the seven competitive matches this season of which just one has been lost, demonstrating the increased strength in depth.

A few minutes later the green hooker appeared on the right wing after more sustained pressure to collect his second try of the day.  He was reported to have twinged his Achilles during the pre-match warm-up but the sight of the try line can have a remarkable healing effect. 

Although now behind 20-16 East Grinstead continued to pose a considerable threat through their three-quarters.  Then with ten minutes remaining a penalty gave Bryn Jones another kick in front of the posts (23-16).  Needing a converted try to draw the match, the visitors were having to attack from their own 22 but the green defence held firm through the remaining time, not without a few nervous moments for the home supporters.  To come back to win from 3-16 was an impressive performance from this young and developing team.

The fixture between these two sides in two weeks time in the Sussex Vase competition promises another competitive afternoon but before then Heathfield travel to Seaford next Saturday for another Sussex 1 League match – kickoff 2.15pm.

Report by Phil Bell

11/24/2007 7:05:37 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Going into this league game the Heathfield Development team were sitting pretty on top of Sussex League 2. However as Heathfield found out Robertsbridge’s lowly league position misrepresented their standard of play. This was not to be an easy game and as expected no quarter was given and none was asked. On what was a bitterly cold day the pace and intensity of this game, especially both packs kept the temperature high.

From the start both sides were looking for good position and Heathfield pack seemed to be quicker to the ball and able to gain good territory, their early possession was rewarded with a try by Matt Cooke who was filling in at fullback, Mike Shallcross converted. As the half progressed the pattern for the game was beginning to set, the Heathfield pack were dominating the forward exchanges and driving deep into the opposition half. Heathfield grabbed 2 tries from Rob Streeter and Jack Bayley from quick tap penalties in the Robertsbridge 22, Shallcross converted one.

There then followed the best try of the game, Roberstbridge kicked deep into the Heathfield half, collected by Cooke at fullback, then a series of runs and drives with excellent support play and interlinking between forwards and backs saw Shallcross score in the left corner. The half ended 24-0 to Heathfield.

No one expected Roberstbridge to lay down in this game, they started the second half on the front foot and were able to take a well deserved penalty in front of the posts. Eventually the Heathfield forwards took control again and from some strong forward runs lead by the evergreen Rob Streeter a ruck was formed 20 metres out. Mike Jacques at scrum half took full advantage of the gaps left in defence and his darting run resulting in a try under the posts, Shallcross converting.

Robertsbridge came storming back sensing Heathfield were sitting back on their lead, they soon punished them for conceding too many penalties and scored in the corner. The game finished on a high note for Heathfield with a superb second try by Mike Shallcross, the ball got moved quickly from right to left on the halfway line and Shallcross took an excellent direct line from the centres, then showed his pace to beat 2 defenders and score under the posts, he converted his own try.

This was a well deserved hard fought victory in this league game, man of the match was difficult to choose with such a good team performance, Shallcross scoring 18 points including 2 excellent tries. However it was the performance of the pack that set this victory up and although Jack Bayley pushed him close it was Rob Streeter just pipped him. Next weekend sees Heathfield entertain Haywards Heath 4ths at home in the league.

11/24/2007 8:23:52 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Heathfield traveled to Lewes on Sunday for their third league fixture of the season. Playing without several key players namely their captain Ben Darcy (Sussex rugby match imminent)  Larry Platt (concussion) Greg Salmon (sleeping bag incident !) Dayle Hollands (ankle) Campbell Lacey (wrist).

None the less, these players were ably replaced by Robert Horsfall Turner, Fraser Rogers, Callum Bridges and Alex Scott all of whom had terrific games.

Tom Keylock captained the side and switched to back row and was truly inspirational. He scored one and was everywhere securing any loose ball.

Horsfall Turner who won man of the match, replaced Keylock at Hooker with reunited props Hancock and "Shrek" Watkins won virtually every scrum against a very large Lewes pack. With the Heathfield pack dominating, the backs had a field day. With a total of ten tries scored and 7 conversions it was a rout. Tries coming from winger Ash Sutton, Wade Granich , Peter Phair , Oli Hancock , Tom Keylock  and fly half Mike Abbott . His kicking was excellent also, slotting 6 out of 7 - mostly from wide out, with Jeremy Burdett, whose tackling was outstanding, also kicking 1 nonchalant conversion. Comment must be made about the team work and overall gameplay of the Heathfield team. The game was won in the first 20 minutes with four tries coming very quickly.

Heathfield outplayed Lewes in every department with the scrummage exerting total control, the backs running incisively and all crucial tackles being made. Thanks must go to the large contingent of supporters who were extremely vocal in cheering Heathfield on, creating the atmosphere of a home match. Heathfield made several changes at half time with the match already won, and after 10 minutes of the second half with the score standing at 54 - 0 Lewes decided to end the match. A fantastic result for Heathfield to put them second in the Sussex A league.

11/23/2007 8:27:22 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Boars stay on top

The Boars went to mid table Crowborough in an attempt to keep their league title hopes alive ahead of visits to two of their main rivals in the next two fixtures. They won the fixture but not in the style to which many have become accustomed.

The Boars had a good opening 20 minutes where they dominated all phases of play and ran in 3 tries. The first from Dave Cook was a taste of things to come as he ran 20 metres through several tackles to score. The second saw Brady Burdett at his best as he dummied his way through to score and the third was another Dave Cook burst followed by him converting his own score. There was then a period of sloppy play and Crowborough came back into the game through a converted try and a penalty kick before Julian Wates crashed over at the end of a good Boars move to take the score to 22-10 at half time.

Crowborough worked hard all through the second half while the Boars dropped in and out of their best form. This led to a drop in the overall fluency of the game but this did not stop Dave Cook from getting his hat trick of tries as he was on hand to finish off when a Julian Wates line break from half way started to look like it might prove too much for the old centre. Crowborough fought back with a good move finished well by their right winger. The Boars favourite score of the day went to veteran scrum half Dave Rhodes who gathered quick ball from the base of a ruck and scampered up the right flank to score. The victory roll he did immediately afterwards was impressive and to this time unexplained. That took the final score to 32-17 in favour of Heathfield and meant at least a share of the league top spot for another 2 weeks.

Man of the Match was Tony Wates for some great work at the set pieces and for terrorising every one in the loose play (even his own players still bear the scars).

Boars Team – M. MacLeod, T. Wates, A. Sutton, P. Hookway, T. Rose, A. Farrell (D. Bird – 30), K. Lewis, D. Cook, D. Rhodes, B. Burdett, D. Hesketh, J. Wates, A. Foster, S. Hollingdale (J. Henry – 50), M. Barber (K. Davies – 50)

Report by Mike MacLeod

11/10/2007 4:13:12 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

This week’s opposition were due to be an altogether tougher nut to crack than recent league games.  Crowborough arrived with a strong and physical looking team and Heathfield were looking for a positive start to the game.   Well they couldn’t have been happier when just 5 minutes into the game they turned over Crowborough possession moved the ball out to the backs and Stuart Packham showed his pace racing in from inside his own half to score the first try.   Heathfield continued to pile on the pressure and only a few minutes later the forwards had driven deep into the opposition half, Levi Willis broke down the right wing and provided a soft inside pass for Simon Green to go in for his first try.  Just after this Crowborough had to go to uncontested scrums after losing their prop, which, under league rules means they automatically give Heathfield 10 points.

This appeared to disrupt Heathfield and there were no further scores before half time.  The game stayed quite scrappy in the first 20 minutes of the second half, however Heathfield managed to get more points on the board when Mikey Brown still rolling back the years took a quick tap penalty squeezed through some ineffective tackling and laid the ball off for Mike Jacques to score under the posts.  Sam Goatcher converted.   Heathfield had to work hard though and Crowborough managed to gain momentum by a series of good forward play and Heathfields indiscipline in conceding penalty after penalty.   Ultimately the pressure told and they scored under the posts, the try was converted. 

This appeared to be a wake up call to Heathfield and the final 20 minutes saw them play some of the best rugby of the game.  The forwards direct running put them over the gain line and fine handling and support play especially from Chris Ambrosino, Simon Green, Jack Bayley and Jim Cummings began to take toll of the Crowborough defence.  After an excellent return from a Crowborough kick by the Heathfield backs Simon Green provided excellent support and a powerful run to score his second try.  Just after that Nick Evans managed to squirm over from about 2 feet out for the final try of the game, Goatcher converted.  

An excellent result, this sees the development teams third league win on the run.   Man of the match goes to someone whose powerful defence play and immense work rate earned him 2 tries today, Simon Green.   

Report by Shaun Hipgrave

11/10/2007 4:10:25 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Although Heathfield won this Sussex League I match convincingly enough a young Brighton side competed courageously until the final quarter when the powerful Heath field side overwhelmed them with some scintillating rugby. The winning margin would have looked more impressive had the visitors converted their tries and penalty opportunities.

Playing against the elements in the first half Heath were prevented from imposing themselves by a lively and motivated home side and the stronger visitors were forced into making a number of basic errors. Their lineout ball was insecure, passes frequently went astray and they lost ball on the ground to the smaller Brighton loose forwards. However the Heathfield defence was solid and Brighton failed to capitalise on the good work put in by their pack. They led by a solitary penalty at half time.

After the break Heathfield were galvanised into more stirring action and immediately took a slender lead through Rob Lawrence after an excellent rolling maul by the forwards. The domination of the game that followed later was delayed by the sin binning of lock Kobe Tonkin for persistent infringement at the breakdown. With only seven forwards to play against Brighton mounted attack after attack but Heath fields’ strength and determination arrested the Home side’s efforts and in effect broke their resolve to overcome their visitors. This was a heroic period of defensive play by the Greenies with all fourteen players tackling like dervishes and with skipper Jones making some telling clearing kicks. With one of their lineout forwards off the field Heath produced some of their best lineout play by throwing short to the impressive Mark Walker and then shoving the Brighton eight back yards with Rob Lawrence organising the rolling maul. These two talented young forwards had wonderful games for the Greenies.

Once Kobe returned from the sin bin the whole game turned and Heathfield delighted their large band of travelling supporters with an invigorating display of attacking rugby. The feast of scoring began with man of the match Matt Skinner racing in to the corner for a fine individual try created by the pack gaining quick ball from the loose. Soon after this Rob Lawrence pounced on the ball which squirted out of the side of a ruck near the Brighton line. He was as surprised as anyone, especially the Brighton side by his good fortune and looked like a cheeky schoolboy as he gleefully accepted his chance and ran in unopposed.

Heath field were now in their stride with their forwards in charge and with Will Christian throwing out some good passes to Bryn Jones who was now showing what a class act he can be at outside half. A half break by Jones and some excellent running and passing in the centre led to Adam Tennant finishing with clinical efficiency. Heathfield had eased into a 24-3 lead. An even better try completed the afternoon’s entertainment when Bryn Jones again received good ball and made a scything break from the Heathfield ten metre line to put his talented centres clear with Matt Skinner touching down for his second try.

Heath field have a tough two weeks ahead with a cup and league double header against unbeaten East Grinstead with both games to be played at Cross in Hand. A large crowd is anticipated for both games (17^th & 24^th Nov) and a feast of rugby will be in the offing.  

Report by Mike de St Croix

11/9/2007 3:42:24 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Heathfield enjoyed a stunning League victory over Horsham and look once again look to be back on the last year’s form.

Horsham started the game strongly and took the game to Heathfield who defended rigorously and then started to push Horsham up the Park. Heathfield found themselves entrenched on the Horsham line and the first try of the day went to Kieran Burdett who intercepted a pass on the Horsham line and neatly touched down.

From then on this became a game dominated by the Heathfield forwards, who rucked with determination and this was to prove to be decisive as the game developed. More and more clean ball was supplied for the backs to flex their legs. Harry Reilly at fly half used his boot to provide important territory for his backs to pressure the Horsham full back.

The second try was provided by Gabrielle Davies who took a beautifully weighted pass from Harry Reilly, slipped by on the blind side to sprint 20 yards down the touch line to score in the corner.

Horsham then marshalled and started to attack the Heathfield half but determined forward play by Jamie Wardle, Alex Borg and Jasper Wren ensured that all pressure was soaked up and once again Heathfield found themselves with a scrum in midfield. A crash ball from centre George Bending created second phase. Jamie Wardle at Flanker, in an important supporting position picked up, shrugged off two tackles and ran 40 metres to score under the posts, with Harry Reilly providing the necessary conversion.

From now on the game opened up for Heathfield with some excellent running angles from George Bending and Fergus Diplock, who once again played a thoughtful game and Ollie Giles always looked threatening and in the forwards Greg Pearce, Adam Davies and Henry Ross were the driving force behind their success.

The final try was snatched by Kieran Burdett in the last few minutes but Horsham never gave up until the final whistle.

A thoroughly enjoyable game of rugby with both teams playing exciting, attacking rugby with excellent spirit.

Upwards and onwards!

11/6/2007 4:16:10 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Boars beat brave Ports team

The Boars welcomed league newcomers Cinque Ports to their Waldron home and provided them with a lesson in finishing as they ran in twelve tries to two. The Boars forwards were on top of their opposite numbers but it was the Boars back division that provided the cutting edge.

Cinque Ports opted to play up the slope in the first half. If this was in the hope of keeping a clean sheet this was blown away in the first five minutes when Farrell went over to score followed five minutes later by Hollingdale. Neither try was converted. This was followed by three tries in the space of 15 minutes from full back Barber who showed that he has a good sense of timing and a great angle of running when less troubled with defensive duties. The half finished with debutant Andy Foster running in a sweet try bringing the score to 32-0.

The Boars made a few changes at the break but soon set about adding to their tally. However Ports took advantage of a loose pass to set up a converted breakaway try for their centre Craig Brown. This stung the Boars back into action and a flurry of tries followed. Braces were scored by Burdett and Jones and singletons by Groome and Lawrence.

The final act of the game was a surprise but well deserved score by Cinque Ports who pushed the boars pack off the ball at a 5 metre scrum and number 8 Gary Swift went over for a try that their effort and spirit deserved and from a very difficult position Paul Smith landed his second conversion of the day.

Man of the Match was Dave Rhodes for bossing the game behind a dominant pack and showing that a good Yorkshireman is so tight that even time can’t take anything off him.

Boars Team – M. MacLeod, A. Sutton, T. Evans, S. Walker (B. Groves – 50), T. Rose, A. Farrell (D. Bird – 55), K. Lewis (N. Sohail – 40), D. Rhodes, B. Burdett, J. Wates (D. Groome – 65), A. Foster (R. Lawrence – 55), S. Hollingdale (K. Davies – 40), M. Barber (S. Jones – 40)

Report by Mike MacLeod

11/6/2007 11:46:09 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

The home crowd were treated to a scintillating performance by Heathfields’ development team on Saturday.   The team is beginning to gel and the mixture of youth, pace and experience were simply too much for Newick.   It didn’t auger well for Newick when from the kick off the Heath collected the ball, set up a ruck, then Jack Bayley broke left down the blindside both starting and finishing the move with Sam Goatcher converting.  The game was hard fought for 10 minutes then Simon Green scored from a powerful run from the 22.  Just after this Goatcher who was having an excellent game at fly half took a pass from Riley who had broken down the blind side to score under the posts, he converted his own try.  Newick then managed to scramble a try from a charged down clearance to get their first and only points on the board. Goatcher snatched his second try with a break from his fly half position, again converting.   The forwards had completely dominated play by now and the distribution by the Heath half backs allowed Stuart Packham and Nick Sindon in for further scores, both being converted.  At Half time Heath went in 40-5 up.

You could understand if the pace in the second half dropped, not a chance with this team, they maintained their shape and kept the pressure on Newick.  Bayley got the first score after a storming run from his own half from collecting a misplaced Newick kick, this was converted.  There then followed excellent forwards and backs play, Packham got his second and Riley got showed his pace in scoring under the posts, again it was converted.  Mike Jacques kept his impressive performance up by getting a try which was converted.  By now Heathfield were able to ring the changes and Charlie Jones bagged 2 tries and Matt Cooke another with Goatcher converting 2.

All in all it was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon for the home crowd, the tries came thick and fast and competition for places in this team is going to be tight in the future.  Man of the Match award was a close run thing with Jack Bayley just being pipped by Sam Goatcher who scored 30 points in all and distributed out to his backs excellently. 

11/6/2007 11:41:36 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

5 tries from Heathfield’s backs, 4 of which scored by wingers, was Pulborough’s undoing when they travelled to Heathfield on Sunday for a league encounter.

2 tries by left wing Ash Sutton with very strong running inside the first 15 minutes set the trend, fly-half Mike Abbott converting one from wide out.  Unfortunately, soon after, Heathfield lost flanker Campbell Lacey with an injured wrist.  With centres Jeremy Burdett and Charlie Dagwell looking like they had been playing together for years, the wings were always going to get plenty of ball.  But Heathfield had to work very hard as Pulborough’s strong and well-drilled pack had the lion’s share of the lineout and caused the normally solid Heathfield scrum several problems.  However, from a Pulborough scrum on their own 22, a good squeeze from the home team front five enabled hooker Alex Hope to win one against the head.  Quick ball from Elliot Marshall to Abbott onto Burdett whose timed pass caught Dagwell on a brilliant line to score.   Abbott converted.

Heathfield rang the changes at half time enabling their whole squad to play but it took time for them to settle.  With the back row of Greg Salmon, Matt Halls and Ben Darcy putting the visitors under so much pressure, Pulborough were forced to kick most of their possession away.   The clearing out at rucks particularly by Tom Watkins, Tom Keylock and Larry Platt continued to give the talented backline all the ball it could want. 

So, Heathfield quickly regained their confidence from the first half and more clean possession found the Heathfield backs too hot to handle and a good loop by Abbott made the extra man and Wade Granich was on hand to score in the corner.  Soon after, a tremendous tackle by the Pulborough fullback on Sutton not only saved another certain try but forced Sutton to leave the field and it was the fullback once again who caught a kick deep in his half and ran the whole length of the pitch to score his side’s consolation try. 

Heathfield were not finished, however, and with a minute remaining, a quick pass by Salmon gave Dagwell, now playing on the wing, his second try in the corner to finish the match for Heathfield as comfortable winners.

Man of the match for Heathfield was Jeremy Burdett who had a tidy, good all-round game both in tackling and distribution.

11/4/2007 11:57:43 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

The chapter of disasters in the saga of the first round match in this seasons Powergen Junior Vase continued when Heath field travelled with a large band of supporters to Hayes in Kent for the rearranged fixture. Both fixtures will be remembered as much for the refereeing or lack of it as the rugby. Due to a misunderstanding there was no referee appointed for the original game and for the second meeting the refereeing was to put it mildly somewhat loose. That said Heath field were well beaten by a faster and more vigorous side and the loyal group of supporters while disappointed by the lack of control of the referee could not grumble with the result and gave credit to the home side’s performance on the day.

Heath field have combined well as a unit this season but there was little evidence of teamwork in this disjointed performance. Not helped by some strange interpretation of the laws Heath were badly beaten to the breakdown, conceded turnover ball regularly and whenever an individual made ground there was insufficient support to create scoring opportunities. Making his debut for Heath field at scrum half, Will Christian showed glimpses of class but received little protection from either the referee or his own players. The stark facts are that Park House scored the only two tries of the match and Heath field lost three players injured while a number of others were struggling with minor injuries by the final whistle. With a number of key league fixtures approaching this loss may serve as a wake-up call to a side who had been shaping so well before until this reversal.

Report by Mike de St Croix

10/27/2007 10:05:21 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

In Heathfields’ development team latest game of the league campaign they were due a good performance after some recent disappointing results.   Being able to select from a strong pool of players who had made themselves available ensured Heathfield were up to full strength.   Right from the kick off Heathfield played with commitment and pace, several times the forwards drove deep into the opposition half releasing the backs to get held up just short of the line.   After 10 minutes though Will Drinkwater broke down the blind side of a ruck in the opposition 22, he managed to release the ball around the back of a defender to Chris English on the wing who went over for the first try.  Within 5 minutes Jack Bayley managed to squeeze over from a ruck on the try line, with Drinkwater converting Heathfield were cruising at 12 – 0.   East Grinstead then showed they weren’t here just to make up numbers,  they upped their game and after concerted pressure in Heaths half managed to score from a charged down clearance.  There were no more scores in the first half but Heathfield were unlucky to lose their hooker Marchant with a badly injured hand.  

The second half needed Heath to show patience, East Grinstead were making all their tackles and competing at the set piece.  Drinkwater added a penalty then after some excellent forward pressure Mike Brown was able pounce on a loose ball on the opposition try line, Sam Goatcher who had come on at fly half for Drinkwater got the conversion.   By the last 10 minutes of the game East Grinstead were tiring and Heathfield took full advantage with Jim Cummings scoring to tries, one of them being converted by Goatcher. 

Overall this was a much improved performance, Levi Willis gets credit for just being stopped short of the try line on 4 occasions but the man of the match award goes to scrum half Mike Jacques who provided quick ball for the backs, constantly harassed his opposition scrum half and kept the pack moving forward throughout the whole game.  The development team hope this is the springboard for a run of good results in the league, with the next 2 games also home fixtures competition for places will be especially tight.

Report by Shaun Hipgrave

10/27/2007 6:02:58 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

Boars beaten

The Boars went to East Grinstead for a top of the table clash in high hopes and good spirits but returned well beaten by a very good team.

The Boars started slowly and lost two converted tries in the first 20 minutes as they failed to put in the tackles when it counted. The EG pack were very solid and had the Boars pack in all sorts of trouble at the set piece and their back row were breaking away and being allowed to make a lot of ground.

Heathfield hit back when Kiwi Nick burst through on the left to score and spirits lifted. The Pirates came back quickly when they were awarded a penalty on the Boars 22 and opted to kick the extra points. The game was pretty evenly fought at this point and the Boars had a stroke of fortune when Matt Woods intercepted a loose pass and ran half the field to score between the posts for Lewis to convert. Shortly after Hesketh was struggling with a shoulder injury and this cost the Boars a try when a barrelling run by the Pirates number 8 ended in another converted try and brought the score at halftime to 22-12.

A good team talk roused the Boars at the start of the second half and a great kick off by Burdett led to a Boars penalty on the EG 5 metre line. Captain Lewis did not hesitate, tapped and charged for the line and caught the EG defence napping to score. The next 10 minutes showed the Boars at their best but their failure to score in this period was to be the turning point. The Boars came closest when an unconventional lineout option led to Lewis being held up over the EG line.

The Boars then started to fall off tackles once more and lost another try in this fashion. When prop Geesin went off injured the fight seemed to go out of the Boars and another try was conceded. Winger Hollingdale brought a brief glimmer of hope when he went over with about 10 minutes to go but even this was snuffed out when the Pirates scored in the last minute.

East Grinstead were a very different team to the one beaten 60 – 5 by the Boars in early September and look a side capable of remaining at the top of this division.

Man of the Match for the second game in a row was Brady Burdett for kicking well in defence and playing well when going forward.

Boars Team – K. Nick, M. MacLeod, J. Geesin (B. Groves – 60), T. Rose, S. Walker, J. Parsons, K. Lewis, N. Sohail, D. Rhodes, B. Burdett, D. Hesketh (A. Farrell – 40), M. Woods, M. Gardiner (K. Davies – 65), S. Hollingdale, D. Ramsey-Smith

Report by Mike MacLeod

10/27/2007 2:56:47 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

Tough test for H3 girls

H3 U15 girl’s rugby team faced strong opposition in their opening match of the season against Folkestone, at Heathfield on Sunday.

With several young and inexperienced players in the side the H3 girls played determined but controlled rugby to lead 19 –10 at half time.  The forwards battled hard against a heavier Folkestone pack and the defensive line worked together very well. Strong tackling throughout the team denied Folkestone opportunities to play a fluent game and runs from Nina Crowther and Deborah Harwood from inside their own 22 yd area added to the H3 points score.  Folkestone started the second half strongly with two tries and briefly led 27-24 but a final push by H3 saw a well- deserved sixth try and a hard-earned 34-29 victory at the final whistle.

Other points scorers for H3 were Olivia Davis and Laura Baker.

H3 is comprised of girls from three local rugby clubs Hellingly,Heathfield and Hastings. Any girls or ladies interested in playing rugby please contact Andy Baurer on 0774-0162367.

Back Row : Mary Cunningham, Georgia Gale, Laura Baker, Stephanie Walter, Megan Curtis, Nina Crowther, Abbey Cleaver, Olivia Davis

Front Row : Mel Ruffell, Milly Gale, Becky Hope, Deborah Harwood, Becky Dorrill

10/22/2007 10:32:53 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)