Boars win twin town tournament

A strong Heathfield Boars team travelled to their twin town Forges Les Eaux to participate in the local rugby tournament. The usual end of season tour preparations (i.e. drinking too much way too early) had been curtailed by a change of travel plans forced on the team by the closure of the Dieppe port by striking French fishermen. The alternative trip via Eurotunnel proved successful and less taxing on the liver.

A jaded but functioning group of players gathered on the Saturday morning and set about recovering their rugby playing skills in advance of playing.

The Boars opened the tournament and their first opponents were Grand Couronne (a team from near Rouen) and they proved stubborn but quite subdued opponents. At first it was as if neither team had quite warmed up but the Boars hit their stride first. Late in the first half the forwards gained good position and then Matt Skinner took a pass after several phases of play. Anyone who has seen him in ‘broken play’ will know how dangerous he is and he ran the width of the field plus the remaining 25 metres to score the opening try. In the second half the Boars had to resist a lot of pressure from the French before scoring the second try with a lovely breakaway move. Started on the left the ball was spun right through hands and out to right winger Dave Groom who made a lot of ground before cleverly offloading as he realised that two defenders were closing on him. Who was on hand to collect the pass, none other than Matt Skinner. That effectively closed the contest and the clock ran down without any additional scoring.

The next game saw the hosts Forges les Eaux hold on for a ‘surprise’ scoreless draw against last years champions Racing Club Paris 15.

After a long delay for two ‘youth matches’ (Forges Les Eaux have some promising young talent coming through) the Boars were up to face Paris in a match that the Boars had targeted as “The Big One!” It was thought that Paris had the edge in the backs and that the Boars could win the forward battle. The only problem was that the opposition had worked this out and committed men and fought hard to deny the Boars yards. This led to a dour ‘defence dominated’ match that was played mostly in midfield. Neither team showed the guile nor the brute force necessary to break through, so the match ended scoreless.

Forges were then beaten by Grand Couronne who showed considerable ability in the forwards who dominated play in that area and laid the platform for their two try to nil victory.

This set up a final round of games with the tournament wide open as any of the four teams could win the trophy. Next up were the unbeaten RC Paris 15 team up against an improving Grand Couranne side. This was an open flowing match with exciting attacking flair and good defence. Paris took the lead when their inside centre anticipated a pass and intercepted to race away to score. Shortly before the end of the game Grand Couranne were allowed advantage for a Paris knock on halfway and broke through a weakened defence to equalise. A draw did no favours to either side and promoted the Boars to tournament favourites.

It was now simple so long as the Boars did not lose to their hosts, Les Forgerons, they would win the tournament. If they lost the trophy would stay in France.

The final game was the most attractive of the tournament for spectators and even the home crowd cheered the Boars play when it was deserved. Forges gave it all they had and left the field with heads held high but it was the Boars who clicked into top gear. The opening try was an absolute corker. It was a classic entry into the line at speed from Matt Skinner after centres Hesketh and Farrell had pulled their opposite numbers away with dummy runs. Skinner blasted through on the Forges 10 metre line and no one got within 10 metres of him as he placed the ball between the posts. A second Skinner try before half time gave the Boars some breathing space and they weathered the Forges pressure early in the second half before driving up field through the forwards as a means of running the clock down. This gave a lovely platform for the backs to time their attacks and this led to the final score of the tournament when a Skinner break was nicely finished off by Dave Groom.

This was a very enjoyable finale to the Boars season and makes Tony Rose even more secure in his “Most Successful Boars Manager Ever” guise. To say that the party went on long into the night underestimates the stamina of some of these guys.

Man of the Tournament was between Matt Skinner for his 4 tries and general brilliance, Duncan Hesketh for battering any opponent who came his way and Jono Sharp for non stop effort coupled with good decision making.

Boars Squad – M. MacLeod, J. Sharp, B. Togher, J. Geesin, J. Cumming, J. Parsons, S. Barrow, T. Rose, K. Lewis, I. Schleider, B. Burdett, N. Newport, D. Hesketh, A. Farrell, D. Groom, M. Barber, M. Skinner

6/11/2008 1:02:55 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

Dear All

Work will start on the new field to be named the Cypress Field (due to a sponsorhip deal) on the 19th of this month. The intention is to flatten an area large enough to accomodate 3 mini's pitch on a Sunday which can be turned into a full size  pitch on a Saturday. There will be new entrance from the main road  onto a new carpark for 60+ cars. A plan of the pitch entrance and car-park will be going up in the clubhouse. Because the pitch will be used possibly on both Saturday and Sunday we need to create a pitch with drainage as good as the main pitch. The cost of this project is in excess of £250,000 and whilst we have raised a large proportion of this , your financial help is still needed. When the final cost and amount raised is finalised , the details will also be put up in the clubhouse.

Because of the complexity of creating the new pitch , car park and entrance , the field will not be available for the entire next season , but will be ready for the season starting 2009 . This will give agrifactors (the same company who did the main pitch) chance to prepare us a surface comparable to the main pitch and give the grass almost a full year to grow . With proper ground management we will then be able to move the weekday training around such that we take more care of the training area during the very wet months.

We will still retain use of the pitch's at Waldron , but the addition of this new pitch means we can play more games at Cross-in-Hand and with the addition of the new car-park , our parking problems can be alleviated.

This is fantastic news for the club and is the result of a lot of work put in by club members.

If you have any questions , would like to help in the fund-raising or can contribute to pledges that club members have committed to please do not hesitate to contact me

Dave Rhodes - Club Chairman

5/12/2008 4:31:50 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

A major Club project in 2008 has been the purchase of a plot of land at Cross-in-Hand for redevelopment as a new second pitch. The new pitch, to be called the “Cypress Field”, is being sponsored by Cypress Drilling who have issued the following message:

Cypress Drilling is delighted to be a sponsor of Heathfield & Waldron Rugby Football Club and to be able to contribute to the development of the Club’s new pitch at Cross-in-Hand. Although we are headquartered several thousand miles away in Texas, USA we take a keen interest in Sussex’s leading rugby club.

Cypress is a company that drills for oil and gas in various Southern States in the US and we put together syndicates of investors to fund this exciting activity - to date several members of Heathfield & Waldron RFC have participated in our drilling programs. If you would like to join them, contact Kirk on kg@cypressdrilling.com

Additional sponsors for the Cypress Oil Field are welcome.

5/11/2008 4:43:41 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

20/4/08: Tunbridge Wells B (H): 5 – 0 (W)

20/4/08: Crowborough (H): 34 – 0 (W)

13/4/08: Sunderland (A): 41 - 5 (L)

13/4/08: Old Christians (A): 5 – 7 (W)

12/4/08: Presentation Boys College, Cork (A): 74 - 10 (L)

30/3/08: Eastbourne A/B (H): 0 – 48 (L)

16/3/08: Uckfield (H): 0 – 39 (L)

9/3/08: Crowborough (A): 10 – 22 (W)

24/2/08: Tonbridge Judds A/B (A) 57-14 (L)

17/2/08: Westcombe Park A/B (H): 19 – 33 (L)

10/2/08: Lewes (H): 19 - 19 (D)

20/1/08: Old Reigatians (H): 7 – 76 (L)

13/1/08: Midhurst (A): 0 – 31 (L)

16/12/07: Seaford (A): 5 – 48 (W)

2/12/07: Horsham (H): 29 – 5 (W)

25/11/07: Hove A/B (A): 51 – 17 (L)

18/11/07: Midhurst (H): 15 – 10 (W)

4/11/07: Tunbridge Wells B (A): 48 –15 (L)

28/10/07: Cranbrook A/B (H): 0 - 46 (L)

14/10/07: v Lewes (A): 18-10 (L)

7/10/07: v Hastings (H): 69-0 (W)

23/9/07: v Hellingly (A): 0 – 40 (W)

4/20/2008 2:06:39 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

Some games are memorable for the fine play and others are forgettable for dull play. This victory will live long in the memory but only of those people who stayed away from the after match celebrations. This reporter’s memory of events is patchy at best.

"Twinkle Toes" prepares to mash and mangle apposing players with a trade mark run... this run saw him pip Bradley to 3rd place in the Top Gun listing - NICE!

Dave Rhodes marches another scrum towards the tryline...

The Boars won despite a comedy of errors in the back division which three times brought Hellingly back into the game by gifting them tries. An early try from Chris Jones settled the nerves and Dave Rhodes added another shortly afterwards. Even the next score being a Hellingly try did not puncture the general feeling that the Boars could win it. Julian Wates then scored an excellent try when he took a ball on the burst at the half way line and beat the defence to make the line near the posts. This seasons Boars top try scorer Rob "Top Gun" Woods then snuck in for another score before the Boars threw Hellingly a life line with a wild ball that was snapped up and run back for a try by a grateful Hellingly player. Simon Hollingdale then showed his power game when he scored from 30 metres out having trampled 3 attempted tacklers on the way. The last action of the half was when Cook, the Hellingly number 8 broke several tackles to score between the posts to take the score to 33-19 at half time.

yes... that was "Top Gun" making a tackle, the stunned look on everyone's face says it all...

The second half saw more errors creep into the Boars game and another wild ball saw Hellingly score again before Woods struck for his second try of the day. Hellingly also found extra effort in the forwards and gained more ground in the loose and parity in the set pieces. This led to a few nervous moments after another Hellingly forward barged his way over the try line. Wates calmed things down with his second try and the Boars held on to the final whistle and time for the celebrations to begin.

Now that looks like its gonna hurt!

"Action Man" takes another lineout...

It was very good to see Joe Geesin last a full match for the first time this season even if it was accompanied by many threats that he would retire immediately the game finished. Aficionados of the Boars scrum hope this is not true. Sadly this game also sees the final game for one of the Boars founding fathers, Simon Walker, who retires after 11 seasons at the club.

Man of the Match was Julian Wates who held a fragile Boars backline together and scored two fine tries.

Boars Team – M. MacLeod, C. Jones, J. Geesin, P. Hookway,  B. Groves (S. Walker – 50), J. Parsons (I. Jenkins – 35), D. Bird (J. Malewicz – 60, D. Cook, D. Rhodes (S. Hipgrave – 55), B. Burdett, J. Wates, R. Woods, S. Hollingdale (K. Lewis – 65), J. Henry (N. Sands – 40), M. Brown (B. Burdett Snr - 75)

Match report by Mike MacLeod

4/15/2008 11:16:10 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

The final game of the season was played in front of one of the largest crowds ever assembled at Cross in Hand. The home club laid on hospitality for their sponsors and vice Presidents before the Greenies completed their league programme with a victory and a 100% record. Most of The clubs sponsors were represented including their main sponsors Wrightsure who have supported them for more than five years. Festivities began at midday with Heathfield`s league winning Boars team entertaining and defeating a reinforced Hellingly side and continued late into the evening after Sussex President elect Roger Edmondson had presented the Sussex Division 1 trophy. It was a day to remember for Heathfield and Waldron RFC.

The Greenies overcame a spirited Seaford side with an efficient display of rugby and yet again their opponents failed to cross the try line. Playing into a strong wind in the first half the home side went onto the attack and scored an early try thorough their top try scorer Rob Lawrence with a well practised catch and drive from a lineout near Seaford’s line. Seaford used the wind to gain some territorial advantage and responded with a penalty. Heathfield returned to the attack with Bryn Jones judging a cross kick to perfection for Matt Skinner to collect and make ground before feeding winger Seb Jones for the try. The wind was making place kicking difficult but Heathfield turned round at half time with a 12-6 lead.

Heathfield opened the scoring in the second half with a pushover try by their number 8 Simon Wilson. This score in effect sealed the win and Heathfield`s 100% record because after resisting the home side for long periods Seaford had a front row injury which resulted in uncontested scrum and then hit the self destruct button by having two players yellow carded inside five minutes. First a Seaford player committed a professional foul to prevent a certain Heathfield try and then the referee correctly gave a second yellow card  for stamping. The match was put out of reach by an interception from George Leney who ran half the length of the field to score under the posts. The score did not really reflect the run of the game because although they did not look like crossing Heathfield`s line , Seaford played much good rugby . While the Greenies were not at their sharpest,  they rewarded their coach and their supporters with a thoroughly competent performance. After the game they received the Sussex Division 1 cup and man of the match Mark “Kiwi” Walker was awarded a Greenies blazer in recognition of his outstanding play and sportsmanship during his two years with the club. All his friends at Heathfield wish him every success when we returns to New Zealand.

Report by Mike de St Croix

Sussex President Elect Roger Edmonson presents the Sussex One League Trophy to Bryn Jones.

Mark 'Kiwi' Walker was presented with a Club blazer after his final game for the Club prior to returning to New Zealand.

Celebrations

More Celebrations...

4/12/2008 1:37:48 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

Boars clinch historic Treble for Heathfield

The Boars produced an excellent performance to clinch the Sussex Div 3 east championship and ensure that all three Heathfield & Waldron senior sides topped their divisions in the same season. This may be the first time such a feat has been seen in Sussex. However there was plenty of hard work done before the champagne corks popped at the end of the match.

...all round the pitch the Boars forwards cancelled out the larger Hastings forwards

the site of Joe Geesin at full pace has KFC thinking about steak, rather than the ball...

The game opened with the Boars facing a strong wind and a big pack of Hastings forwards. The first quarter was a matter of containment and sussing the opposition out. The Boars pack again raised their game against bigger opponents with the tight five working hard to allow the back row to harass the opposition. After 20 minutes a foray by the Boars into the Hastings half led to a try from number 8 Dave Cook. He broke several tackles, placed the ball between the posts and calmly converted his own kick. This settled a lot of nerves and the Boars game improved.

Five minutes later inside centre Julian Wates took the ‘wrong’ option and spurned an overlap to bulldoze into his opposite centres and he was very fortunate to break through some sloppy tackling and score another converted try [or in other words, he couldnt get the pass off so had to go it alone and through power and determination broke several tackles to score under the posts]. Just before halftime Cook rounded off a move out wide on the right as he scooped up loose ball and took it the remaining 10 yards to score. With the score at 19-0 the half-time the team talk was about maintaining focus as the game was not over by any means.

The Boars backs at FULL pace during another attack... now will Woodsie pass this time??!?!

The Boars have improved a lot this season and much of that is seen in their attitude and fitness. The second half was saw some good rugby with Rob Woods and Adam Farrell standing out as the ball flowed well and set moves came off.

First full back Woods joined the line out wide and beat the defence for pace as he raced to the line. Then Farrell smashed through the centre 15 metres out and made the ground to score a converted try. This was followed by a bizarre try when Woods broke through 40 metres out and chip kicked the ball over the last defender who then illegally tripped him as he went past to collect the ball. This would have presented the referee with a problem had winger Nick Sands not sped after the ball, collected it and scored between the posts for Ian Schleider to convert. That probably saved Hastings a penalty try and a yellow card.

Woods on the attack again during the second half...

All through the game Hastings had fought back by trying to make ground through their forwards. This finally paid off when they scored between the Boars posts after a long period of possession and good recycling that wore down the Boars defence.

Heathfield came straight back and Cook gained his third try of the match when the Boars won a penalty 5 metres out and he took responsibility, tapped and went so quickly that the defence was unable to stop him.

Woods collected his second try of the game when he again came into the line at speed and broke free of the defence to score. And the final try was the best of the nine when Farrell shook off a tackle from his opposite number 40 metres out and had just about enough gas in the tank to make it to the line just as several defenders caught up with him.

second team players look on in awe as Adam "itsmylastgameoftheseasonimnotpassingtoanyone" Farrell takes on John "Action Man" Parsons... mind the hidden suprise lads!!!!

The final whistle went shortly after this and the party started in earnest. This win sets up a fantastic final set of league matches on the 12th April when the second team travel to Haywards Heath and the Boars play Hellingly 2’s at home both with an early (12.30 pm) kick off to watch the Heathfield first team striving to beat Seaford and finish the season unbeaten in the league. The H&WRFC clubhouse will be rocking that evening with 4 trophies already won and a ‘best ever’ season to be celebrated.

Man of the Match was blind side flanker John Parsons for living up to his nickname of Action Man and doing excellent work all around the pitch.

Boars Team – M. MacLeod, J. Sharp, J. Geesin (A. Sutton – 30), P. Hookway (D. Bird – 65), T. Rose (B. Groves – 65), J. Parsons, K. Lewis (I. Schleider – 40), D. Cook, M. Brown (D. Rhodes – 40), B. Burdett, J. Wates, A. Farrell, S. Hollingdale (R. Woods – 40), M. Barber

Match report by Mike MacLeod

[with a little tweak here and there from Julian Wates]

3/31/2008 8:04:46 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)     

This local derby match was robustly contested but played in good spirit under the watchful eye of a thoroughly competent referee. Heathfield played all the rugby and proved to a huge crowd exactly why they are Sussex Division 1 champions with a one hundred percent record. They dominated this match from beginning to end scoring four good tries in the process. As has so often been the case this season the Greenies pack were awesome especially at the lineout and in the loose. Uckfield competed well in the tight but the speed and power of the Greenies eight dictated the course of the match. Kiwi Mark Walker, moved to No 6 for this game, was immense in everything he did and with Simon Wilson and Bruce Pestell also in peak form the back row carried forward superbly and continually turned over any ball which Uckfield threatened to win. Lee Vockins had a marvellous tussle with his talented opposite number and put in some crunching tackles. It was his kind of game and he emerged with great credit. His half back partner Bryn Jones controlled the game well putting in some excellent positional kicks and releasing his backs when tries were in the offing. Every Heathfield player performed admirably in what was very much a team performance by a group of players who play for each other and who provide great entertainment for their large group of loyal supporters. No side achieves success without strong and skilful leadership and the Heathfield coach Dave Jones has been the mentor and inspiration behind this result and the successes of the season.

Mercifully the rain which was forecast did not materialise and Uckfield produced an excellent playing surface. After both sides had missed penalty opportunities Heathfield opened the scoring when their forwards produced quick ball for the three quarters to move the ball to Adam Tennant who timed his pass perfectly for full back Will Drinkwater to cross half way out. The wind which troubled the kickers all afternoon  ensured that the Heathfield lead was restricted to five points. Half way through the first period Matt Skinner was successful with a penalty kick and the  Greenies then scored one of their copybook tries when Mark Walker secured lineout ball near the Uckfield line for the Greenies eight to trundle to the try line allowing try scorer extraordinary Rob Lawrence to score another of his many tries this season. Heathfield`s other try machine Adam Tennant nearly stole a march on Lawrence when he seemed certain to score on half time. Alas he dropped the ball just before scoring.

The halftime score was 15-0 to Heathfield but soon after the break Tim Evans won a turnover, Bryn Jones made a break and Tennant jinked his way to the line this time making sure to hang on to the ball. An excellent conversion made the score 22-0 and put the game out of Uckfield`s reach. However Heathfield continued to dominate and with subs Mono Thewlis, Tom Pritchard and Richard Cooley providing fresh legs one of Heath field’s ever presents Tim Evans scored a forwards try which was converted to complete one of Heathfield`s best victories over their local rivals. On a day when Heathfield`s two other teams clinched first place in their league competitions this was indeed a day of triumph for the Greenies.

Report by Mike de St Croix

Dan politely gets an Uckfield player back on their side of the ruck...

3/29/2008 8:32:40 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)