Heathfield Rugby Club Poker Tournament

Join us for a fun evening of poker, Texas Holdem style.

Playing places are limited but all club members and guests are welcome to come along and join in the atmosphere. With great prizes available this really is a night not to miss.

This is a fun raising event in aid of the Cypress Field development so by supporting this event you are directly supporting the club and all its members.

For more information please email Julian Wates

there is a £20 entrance fee for players and this includes champagne and canapés, Black Tie is preferred.

This event really is open to anyone, from complete novices to seasoned pro's, and just for the record wives and girlfriends usually do far better than the rugby players...

9/10/2008 9:27:04 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Heathfield 32 Gosport & Fareham 10

Heathfield won their first competitive game of the new season with a convincing defeat in the EDF Energy Senior Vase of Gosport and Fareham RFC who play their league rugby at the same level as Heathfield but in the South West region. 

Heathfield started the game with a pace and level of skill that pleased coach Dave Jones and reflected the hard work in pre-season training.  Gosport had only arrived 45 minutes before the match started and it looked as though some of them were mentally still on the coach.  Slick inter passing combined with supporting players arriving at pace had the visitors struggling to defend and it was no surprise when Kobe Tonkin crashed over after a sustained period of play.  Gosport hardly had their hands on the ball and failed to make use of the conditions when they did, only kicking long with the helpful breeze on three occasions in the first half.

After twenty five minutes continued pressure ended in Kobe Tonkin rolling out of a tackle to collect his second try (10-0).  Five minutes later Sean Hammond, making his first competitive appearance for Heathfield, scored his first try for the club, illustrating the impressive mobility that he brings along with highly effective scrummaging at loose head.  Byrn Jones converted on a day when place kicking was very difficult (17-0) The home pack were generally aggressive and mobile, scrapping for the ball and often winning fifty-fifty situations against a Gosport pack that appeared much heavier.

A moment of poor discipline and confusion allowed Gosport to score a try from a quickly taken tap penalty (17-5).  However almost immediately Heathfield responded after another extended sequence of handling with a well-taken try by Damien Pestell (22-5).

Facing the wind in the second half Gosport started in a more combative mode and Heathfield had to defend more than previously.  However once this surge had been contained Bryn Jones started to make many yards with excellent kicking out of hand.  Adam Tennant completed a good handling move to open the scoring in the half (27-5).  Gosport were being more effective around rucks and mauls, pushing the offside line and disrupting otherwise good green possession but by now it was clear that Heathfield were going to win as long as they did not relax.

Simon Wilson had made excellent ground throughout the game and he now completed Heathfield’s scoring with a decent try (32-5).   Kobe Tonkin was then replaced by the new stream-lined Dan Hunter-Evans.  As well as his two tries Kobe had been effective in the loose and made some fine middle lineout catches on a difficult day so it was no surprise when he was picked as man of the match.

Following some more good handling Damien Pestell unselfishly passed with the line at his mercy but Gosport managed to prevent the try.  Indeed the visitors finished the stronger of the two sides and they now counter-attacked well.  Their speedy left wing Pat Mulholland who had looked threatening whenever he had the ball scored a fine try to complete the scoring (32-10).

Next Saturday (13th September 3pm) Heathfield entertain Beccehamians in the first London SE 4 League game of the season.   The standard of play demonstrated by Heathfield, especially in the first half of this match, bodes well for the coming campaign.

9/10/2008 9:05:22 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Boars start well

The Boars started the new season as they finished the old one. This win knocked the rust off the machine and exposed areas for improvement but was enough to suggest that the Boars can stay in Division 2 for more than a single year.

Brady gets the new season underway

The Boars scrum welcomed back Paul Watton and he repaid this with a big hand in the Boars set piece dominance. This started at the first scrum when Crowborough were driven back 10 metres off their own ball. Shortly after this Sam Barrow went over for his first try converted by Brady Burdett. But slack tackling let Crowborough level the game with a try through their forwards.

Mike Shallcross restored the lead soon after, some good backs pressure ended with Wates splitting the Crowborough defense before passing to Shallcross to score in the corner. A backs move mix up left an alert Crowborough centre holding the ball for a 60 metre dash to the Boars try line for another converted try.

RUNAWAY.. did someone tell Keith about the pre match chat!!

Better forward play saw some stability return and Barrow once again used this platform to break away and score. Last years top try scorer, Rob Woods, then got in on the action with a try just before half time.

Rob "Top Gun" Woods races away to open this years account,  with Mike Shallcroft in support...

Crowborough asked for uncontested scrums shortly after the restart and this led to a more even contest with the only score being a single try from Barrow when he snaffled the ball from a poor defensive lineout at Crowborough’s 5 metre line. This half also saw the welcome return of two ‘old’ Boars when Paul Squires and Guy Ellery pulled on the shirt after long term injuries.

We couldn't work out why Kenny kept takling the same player over and over again, it turns out he works in a local Pie Factory!! Jo Can you please feed him before a game!!

Man of the Match was Sam Barrow for his three tries and all round energy. But also special mentions should go to the wingers on the day, both Sam and Mike work hard in defense and attack and did a great job for the team.

Boars Team – M. MacLeod, C. Jones, P. Watton, P. Hookway, T. Rose, D. Bazen, K. Lewis, S. Barrow, D. Rhodes (G. Ellery – 65), B. Burdett, D. Hesketh (P. Squires – 40), J. Wates, M. Shallcross, A. Sam, R. Woods

Match report by Mike MacLeod

9/6/2008 2:20:38 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

2008/2009 Season

9/1/2008 3:40:42 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Notice of Annual General meeting

HEATHFIELD & WALDRON RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB (“the Club”)

NOTICE is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the above-named company will be held at  The Club House, The Hardy Roberts Ground, Cross - in - Hand, East Sussex TN21 0TA on Tuesday 29 July, 2008 at 8.00 pm when the following resolutions will be proposed:-

ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS

1. “THAT the draft accounts of the Club for the year ending 30 April, 2008 which are laid before the Meeting be approved.”
2. “THAT Watson Associates of 30 – 34 North Street, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 1DW be appointed as Accountants to the Club.”
3. “THAT Mike de St Croix, be re-elected as President of the Club for the forthcoming year.”
4. “THAT Dave Rhodes, be re-elected as Chairman of the Club for the forthcoming year.”
5. “THAT Tim Ball, be re-elected as Secretary of the Club for the forthcoming year.”
6. “THAT Chris Hicks (Treasurer), Michael Baird (Minis Section Chairman), Helen Goatcher (Juniors Section Chairman), Chris Jones (Seniors Section Chairman) and Sasha Hunt (Club Commercial Director) be elected to the Management Committee together with the Chairman and the Secretary be elected to the Management Committee for the forthcoming year”.
7. “THAT Mike de St Croix, Dave Rhodes, Paul Wilson, Ron Powell and Peter Mercer be confirmed as the Directors of the Club for the forthcoming year”.
8. “THAT, on the recommendation of the Management Committee, all existing Vice Presidents of the Club be re-elected for the forthcoming year.”
9. “THAT the following be elected Vice Presidents of the Club:

Michael Morris (President of Cypress Oil)
Lewis Marshall
Simon Walker
Paul Hookway
Anthony Mannion

Dated the 3 July 2008

Tim Ball
Secretary

Registered office:-       
Fifth Floor
Old Change House
128 Queen Victoria Street
London EC4V 4BJ

Note:- A member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote instead of him; a proxy need not be a member.

7/6/2008 2:19:49 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

50 Club Latest

February 08

£50 R Wood

£25 M Brown

£10 B Burdett

March 08

£50 P Wilson

£25 S Wilson

£10 A Wates

April 08

£50 D Hesketh

£25 S Sherlock

£10 B Taylor

May 08

£50 P Mercer

£25 P Jarvis

£10 M Hassall

June 08

£50 D Cooley

£25 G Woods

£10 M Baird

Please collect your winnings from Dave or Mel at the Bar.

7/5/2008 4:37:54 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Heathfield Boars win in France

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 12:02:55 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Cypress Field - A letter from the Chairman

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 3:31:50 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Sponsor of the New Pitch at Cross-in-Hand

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 3:43:41 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)