Heathfield & Waldron 4th XV vs East Grinstead 3rd XV

I dont have a match report yet but we do have some video footage...

The first one is of Mike Hole Scoring from a nicely worked backs move [A DSP by the look of it!!] and the second one is of an Ian Jenkins try, after being put away by a lovely little pop from scrum half Matt Walker. Its a shame that its sideways, but if you turn your head you'll be fine...

Mike Hole scoring from a nicely worked backs move...

Jenko crashes over...

Thanks to Dave Groom for the video, thats the first time he has ever been up with play! Apparently I have been unfair and I would like to make it know that I didnt mean the cheap attack on Dave Groom, he is as fine a winger as has ever for the club... [is that better Dave?]

10/14/2008 7:56:33 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Development XV 21 Barns Green 10

After a big loss last week to Worthing the Development XV were determined to get back into winning ways this week. Barns Green was last encountered at the end of last season when we met in a tournament in Warsaw Poland!

Once more there was a number of changes to the development XV from the previous week which included a number of ex Robertsbridge players including Julian, who added much needed bulk to the front row.

Barns green opened the scoring with a try that was manufactured by there strong forwards, this was scored out wide and the conversion was missed. Heathfield replied with a penalty kick by fly half Sam Goacher. This sequence was repeated later on in the first half, a Barns Green try and a Sam Goacher penalty, giving a half time score of 10 - 6 to Barns green.

Unlike the past few weeks where a lack of concentration and periods of ill discipline undermined the teams performance, a new found determination helped to raise our game and during the second half the Dev XV were clearly the team that had the game under control. The first try of the second half was scored by No 8 Oli Robertshaw, who had a dominate game at the base of the scrum often helping out new scrum half Nick Seddon at the set piece, he powered over to score a well deserved try. Sam Goacher who was in fine kicking form missed the difficult conversion but kicked another penalty with in a few minutes. Heathfield was now showing some of the skills that is pleasing to the eye, with fine tactical kicking from San Goacher, elusive runs from fullback Chris English, and centres Stuart Buckland and Leon running set moves. The second try for Heathfield was scored by one of the more mature players, hooker Chris Jones, who belied his years to collect the ball from a breakdown and dash ten metres diving over the line for the decisive score of the game. Converted by Sam Goacher.

All in all a more rounded performance by the entire team.

10/13/2008 4:59:49 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Heathfield & Waldron RFC 17 Horsham 7

Heathfield continued their promising start to the season by defeating Horsham in a close and keenly contested match at Cross in Hand. Both sides were short of key players but Heath used the home advantage to good effect especially in the first half when their speed of thought and action looked like putting the result beyond doubt before half time. Horsham had other ideas and put in a storming second half to restrict the home team to a ten point winning margin.

After a scrappy start Greenies settled down to play in the manner that they and their supporters enjoy. Heathfield achieved parity in scrum and line out and the speed of their forwards to the breakdown created quick ball for backs and forwards to develop sustained movement from one end of the field to the other. The visitors found adjusting to this tempo difficult which allowed the home team to play some fast and attractive football. Towards the end of the first quarter Heathfield secured lineout ball through Bruce Pestell and ever improving scrum half Lee Vockins made a clean break to feed No 8 Simon Wilson who ran in from outside the Horsham 22 to score near the posts. Joe Reilly converted to take Heath into a 7-0 lead. The Greenies continued to play fast  and entertaining rugby and were rewarded with a second try after a good passage of play when Bryn Jones timed a pass superbly for Heathfield full back Sam Thewlis to run at pace through the visitors defence. Again Reilly converted to give Heathfield a 14-0 lead at half time.

Horsham were a different team in the second half and dominated the game for long periods. Their forwards gained parity in all departments up front and their backs looked threatening whenever they ran the ball. By contrast the home team were unusually restrained in the second half and were relieved to be awarded a penalty in the dying minutes to secure a fair but unconvincing victory. Horsham’s only reward for an excellent second half was one converted try.

Heathfield played well as a team in the first half of this game and a few players put in outstanding performances over the full eighty minutes. Simon Wilson was constantly involved and worked really well with Vockins at scrum half and with his back row colleagues. Bruce Pestell had a storming game, winning valuable possession at the lineout and making a number of surging runs. Brother Damien was, as ever a powerhouse in the centre and Sam Thewlis gave a polished performance at full back.

This was a valuable win against a team who never gave up. Heathfield continue their challenge in the EDF cup competition on Saturday when they visit Charlton Park for the second time this season. Kick off in south east London will be at 2.30.         

10/13/2008 4:28:16 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Chichester 3’s 36 Heathfield Boars 5

Boars suffer travel sickness

The Boars suffered from the loss of 8 regular players for the long journey to Chichester and were not good enough to deny a vigorous Chichester side a win.

Dave Rhodes starts an early boars attack

With traffic delays the Boars arrived late and had only 5 minutes to warm up ahead of kick off. The Boars looked sluggish for most of the first half and were grateful to turn round at only 5-0 down. This was due to some good defence but was mainly down to Chichester errors when making breaks.

Again more good early pressure from the Boars...

The Boars also showed some great defence, well at least for the majority of the game...

Chichester were more clinical in the second half as they upped the speed of the game and ran the older Boars forwards round the pitch until gaps appeared and tries resulted. Chichester scored four tries in this fashion during a 20 minute purple patch. During this period a brave tackle from guest fullback Neill Newport saw him taken to hospital for 21 stitches to a facial cut. The Boars briefly came back into the game when captain Julian Wates chipped a flat defence and outpaced [there's something you dont hear very often!!] the defenders to score.

Justin breaks the line...

Any thoughts of a comeback were ended when Chichester scored a final try in the later stages of the game. In a game of few positives the work rate and bravery of Dan Bird earned him the Boars man of the match award.

Boars Team – M. MacLeod, J. Sharp, M. Powderley, P. Hookway, T. Rose, J. Bayley, D. Bird, K. Lewis, D. Rhodes, B. Burdett, J. Wates, D. Hesketh, T. Ralph, B. Harman, N. Newport (S. Hollingdale – 60)

Match Report by Mike MacLeod

10/13/2008 3:39:38 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

H&W RFC U14 0 Brighton U14 5

A MORAL VICTORY FOR HEATHFIELD U14s

Heathfield held their first League game of the season in driving rain and miserable playing conditions against a bigger Brighton side. This turned out to be the game of games and Heathfield dominated play for 80% of the game. Only determined Brighton defence stopped the Greens from adding to the scoreboard but the real story was in the grit and determination played by the Heathfield  side that was unfortunate in just not being able to apply the final execution and despite the conditions, their tackling and passing were consistently good

Much of the play was with the forwards and Henry Ross, Jasper Wrenn, Alex Borg, Jamie Wardle and Zak Lamas applied constant pressure on Brighton’s pack, especially when the ball was loose and the result was Heathfield constantly camped in Brighton’s half.

Harry Reilly’s kicking was once again sublime and his boot constantly took Heathfield forwards, relieving any pressure points. Henry Jolliffe’s pace once again was put to good use but the conditions meant he could not use his true speed.

A slipped tackle allowed the big Brighton No8 over to cross the line but this was the only score in an incredibly tight game that saw Brighton finish as the lucky winners!

The game bodes well for Heathfield. Beware, this lot are determined!

10/11/2008 9:52:39 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS RFC 26 H&W RFC O

The talented and well organised home team won this game by a comfortable margin and never looked like losing their unbeaten record. Heathfield however gave the TJs a thorough examination and competed well for long stretches of the game giving notice once again that they could feature in the top half of the table this season. From their outstanding performance TJs indicated that they are likely to top the league and gave evidence that any side who defeats them this season will have to be on the top of their game.

With Heathfield playing into the wind in the first half and defending courageously neither side was able to penetrate two strong defences. Just when it seemed likely that Heathfield would escape with a six point deficit at half-time Heathfield scrum half Lee Vockins was shown a yellow card for killing the ball in a ruck and almost immediately the home side’s skilful backs created an opportunity for their powerful no 8 to run in a good try. TJs led by two penalties and an unconverted try at half time.

The home side started strongly in the second half with some surging runs by their impressive back row plus some intelligent kicking by their half backs. Still with only 14 players on the field Heathfield conceded a second try from the TJ captain and open side wing forward. No sooner had Vockins returned to the fray than the Greenies were down to 14 again with Rob Lawrence being harshly yellow carded for foul play when the referee had ignored the first offence by TJs.

Heathfield responded to being a player down by driving purposefully into the TJs defence but then hit the post with a penalty attempt in front of the post. Once again the highly competent home side took advantage of the extra man and scored a further try this time by their other flank forward.

The home team had a vice-like grip on the game but still the Greenies fought back and mounted a sustained rearguard action camping inside TJs 22 for at least ten minutes. Time and again Greenies drove for the line with their experienced no 8 David Cook in the van but TJs held out with some tenacious defending and Heathfield were denied the try they deserved. After their period of excellent defending TJs proved their class by a series of tactical kicks and fluent running to score a final try and to gain a victory by 26 points to nil.

This was a match for the connoisseur between two sides who set out to play fast attacking football. Both sides had excellent back rows, TJs were stronger at the line out and Heathfield`s front row acquitted themselves admirably. Alongside the excellent Cook in the back row Heathfields young flankers Bruce Pestell and George Leney lost nothing in comparison with TJs outstanding breakaway trio. Skipper Bryn Jones led his line well and Damien Pestell and Tom Sheffield broke the TJ midfield defence on several occasions. Sheffield showed what an asset he is to the Heathfield squad this season. Heathfield will have learned much from this encounter and if they can tighten up on their discipline and cut down the yellow cards they concede they could run TJs close later in the season.

Heathfield continue their league programme at home to Horsham on Saturday, kick off at 3pm.

10/7/2008 10:12:21 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

H3/South Sussex 0 v's Wimbourne 34

On a very windy and wet Sunday afternoon at Hellingly the H3/South Sussex U18 girls played their first match of the season against last years undefeated champions Wimbourne. The home sided started well matching Wimbourne and giving away few opportunities to their more experienced opposition. However as the half progressed Wimbourne gradually gained the upper hand and their superior strength began to tell scoring four tries as the half progressed.

In the second half the home team grew in confidence, holding Wimbourne at bay for long periods and they should have made this pressure tell as they camped on the opposition 5 metre line. However a quick turnover ball won by Wimbourne led to a breakaway try effectively ending the contest. The H3/South Sussex team never gave up and the experience gained should prove invaluable to them in the coming season. (Result 0 -34)

Back Row: Katie Baurer, Babs Cook, Kat Cook, Nina Crowther, Becky Joslin, Harri Neesam, Steph Walter, Leanne Brown
Front row: Yas Eager, Molly Byrne, Lizzie Francis, Laura Baker

10/6/2008 9:52:47 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Heathfield Boars 10 East Grinstead 2’s 29

Errors cost Boars dearly

The Boars made too many errors against a young, well drilled East Grinstead side and paid the price by crashing to their first home league defeat since March 2007.

Before the kick off it looked like a classic match of youth vs experience with the Boars aware that their greater bulk was a double edged weapon. From kick off it was a well contested game with the Boars dominating the scrums and the more mobile EG pack getting to breakdowns first.

Too Tall takes another line out, whilst at the same time trying not to be too aggressive!!

An early penalty conversion gave EG the lead and this increased when they played a rush defence against the Boars back line which led to a spilled pass being hacked on for a East Grinstead try and they converted this to take a 0-10 lead.

The Boars forwards then pounded up the middle to gain good field position from where a blindside break found Brady Burdett putting Matt Overy away to score an unconverted try in far the corner. This gave the Boars heart but another well taken EG try opened a 12 point lead. The half ended with the Boars defending their line for a full 5 minutes against sustained barrage of attacks and turning round 5-19.

Jono's aggressive stance strikes fear into the entire opposition team!!

A good spell for the Boars swung the game back in the balance as Burdett scored in front of the clubhouse when EG ran out of defenders as the Boars pressed. However the game turned back towards the visitors as they stayed strong in the loose forward play to deny the Boars possession in the vital areas. They then used their superior fitness and well oiled backs moves to run in two late tries.

Man of the Match had to be a forward and after taking 10 ‘against the head’ it had to be hooker Jono Sharp.

Boars Team – M. MacLeod, J. Sharp, P. Watton, P. Hookway, T. Rose, J. Bayley, K. Lewis, J. Parsons, D. Rhodes, B. Burdett, J. Wates, S. Barrow, M. Overy, P. Kiwi, T. Ralph

Captains Comment!
yep this a new section of the report where I stick in my two penny's worth...

We have to learn to play the ref better, I have to admit that in the 25 years I have been playing for the club I don’t ever remember being told to tell my team to stop being so aggressive, and the fact that the opposition were younger and smaller still didn’t make me feel guilty about trying to tackle them as hard as possible! Even with the restrictions on "aggression" we still defended superbly and I was very impressed. But we still whinged far too much, even if some of the decisions were incredulous. Well played Grinstead who were on the day the better team and who played the game to win but also in a manner which was a credit to their club.

Oh and just in case the ref is reading this... MY NAME IS NOT JUSTIN! That's a special name only my wife uses and now of course the entire boars team.

Match Report by Mike MacLeod

10/4/2008 7:49:28 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Heathfield Boars 79 Brighton 3’s

Boars win BIG AGAIN

The Boars continued their campaign in division 2 with a stunning win over the previously unbeaten Brighton 3’s.

Jack Bayley putting the pressure on nice and early...

Winning the toss is important at Waldron due to the famous slope and most teams like to play uphill first half. Heathfield won and chose this option and profited handsomely. From the first few engagements it became clear that the Boars were significantly superior in the forwards and the backs would play ‘going forward’. This led to some good attacking rugby and the Boars score six unanswered tries in the first half to turn around 36-0.

Another attack down the hill from the rampant Sam Barrow...

The forwards dominated Brighton and the back row of Bayley, Lewes and Barrow were at the heart of everything...

Playing downhill in the second half captain Julian Wates asked the Boars to end their habit of leaking tries and to keep a clean sheet. It was ironic that his attempted clearance hit one of his own players to gift Brighton their first score. By then the game was well won and all that was to be decided was the margin. The Boars were happy with their seven tries in this half but the three Brighton tries suggest that fitness levels are not all they could be.

Guess what, yep the back row getting stuck in again... and KFC, no dodgy food jokes!!

The Boars tries came from Jack Bayley (3), Sam Barrow (3), Simon Hollingdale (2), captain Wates, Paul Watton, Brady Burdett, Matt Overy and returnee Ben Harman.

Paul Watton caping of a great performance with a powerful try...

Man of the Match was close with ‘ginger sex god’ Jono Sharp and Sam Barrow challenging hard for the prize. However the award went to Paul Watton for his destructive scrimmaging and barrelling runs.

Boars Team – M. MacLeod, J. Sharp, P. Watton, P. Hookway, T. Rose, J. Bayley, K. Lewis, S. Barrow, D. Rhodes, B. Burdett, J. Wates, S. Hollingdale, M. Overy, B. Harman, M. Barber

Match Report by Mike MacLeod

9/30/2008 8:08:43 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)     

Heathfield &Waldron RFC 40 East Grinstead RFC 18

A large crowd at Cross in Hand witnessed some outstanding rugby in a match which was sadly tainted by some ugly scenes after the referee had blown the whistle for full time. There had been some incidents both on and off the ball during the game itself but the behaviour and actions of some of the players involved in the final skirmishes did no credit either to the splendid attacking rugby played by the home side or to the game of Rugby itself.

Barely five minutes into the game the first “off the ball” incident occurred when Heathfield flanker Pritchard received a boot in his face which caused profuse bleeding and damage to his nose. Fortunately for the visitors the referee was following the ball and did not see the offence. East Grinstead was therefore able to continue the game with a full compliment while Pritchard was substituted for running repairs.

The Greenies forwards dominated all phases from the start and the first try resulted from the first of a number of heels against the head by their outstanding front row. Number 8 Wilson returning for injury made ground before skipper Jones carried well and delivered the scoring pass to centre Damien Pestell who burst through a number of tackles to open the scoring. The second try was even more exhilarating for the Heathfield faithful. The Greenies turned over ball inside their own 22 for hooker Lawrence and lock Tonkin to run powerfully close to the touchline to find the effervescent and evergreen Jim Cummings on hand to score. The feast continued. Vockins, who had another fine game at scrum half took a quick tap penalty inside the opposition half. The ball was passed through forwards and backs before Lawrence showed his speed to run clear from the ten metre line to score by the posts. The two teams exchanged penalties before Heathfield won another scrum against the head for their half backs to move the ball to the narrow side for left winger Sebastian Jones to show his speed to make the score which allowed Heathfield to go into half time with a 25-3 lead.

Heathfield sealed their victory soon after the restart when they scored try which saw both props handling like centres for Cummings to score his second try of the match out wide on the left touchline. The home side continued to dominate, the visitors showed signs of frustration and Pritchard, whose face was still bleeding, was substituted for the last time. Heathfield scored a final try through Tonkin, East Grinstead managed two consolation tries and then the darker side of Rugby had its say right at the end when veteran Ian Jenkins who had come on as a late substitute was lucky to escape with just concussion as a result of the unsavoury ill discipline which concluded the afternoon’s entertainment.

For sixty minutes of the match Heathfield played wonderful rugby with backs and forwards handling and running superbly. They face a tough challenge next Saturday at highly fancied Tonbridge Juddians. They will start as underdogs but on the evidence of this match they have a very good chance. A full turnout from Heathfield supporters will be needed. 

9/29/2008 8:57:22 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)