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U17s win Regional Final
Philip Bell30 Mar 2015 - 07:50
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Heathfield & Waldron RFC U17's win the London & South East Plate final.
Report by Dave Cook
Having beaten two good club teams en route Heathfield U17's yesterday beat Bishops Stortford in the South East regional final and booked themselves a place in the National U17 plate semi final.
On a very windy, sometimes wet Sunday afternoon at Bishops Stortford, Heathfield were able to overcome the elements by scoring three good tries to two.
With the wind coming directly across the pitch, neither team had an advantage except for the quality of the kicking and the decision making. Heathfield from the start used both more effectively, scoring a good try out wide, by George Gomersall, following good line out and line incision.
Both teams were trying to play but the conditions acted against them. Heathfield however were dominant at the line out, securing their own and upsetting Stortford's more often than not. Heathfield's second try, scored by Nick Cook, but came from an excellent driving maul by the forwards from a line out 20m out. Tom Burgess continuously put BS back in their half with some great touch finds.
BS were still competitive with some excellent sorties by their scrum half and line breaks by their blind side flanker. But Heathfield kept repelling them time and again with solid tackling and more often than not turning them over.
BS scored a well worked try wide out through their backs early in the second half.
The second half continued in the same competitive vain, until a 50m break by Lewis Headland got them to within 5 metres of the BS line. Quick support and good handling ended with Oliver Osla-Holt going over by the posts, this one converted by Sean Crozier.
BS never gave up and pressurised the Heathfield line for the last 15 minutes, they scored a try down the blind side, to make it 17-10, but were unable to cross the line again..
A massive defensive game by Heathfield and the ability to take their chances in difficult conditions was the difference between these two good teams.
Heathfield now play the South West group winners Cullompton in the Semi Final of the National Plate at Henley RFC on the 19th April..
Having beaten two good club teams en route Heathfield U17's yesterday beat Bishops Stortford in the South East regional final and booked themselves a place in the National U17 plate semi final.
On a very windy, sometimes wet Sunday afternoon at Bishops Stortford, Heathfield were able to overcome the elements by scoring three good tries to two.
With the wind coming directly across the pitch, neither team had an advantage except for the quality of the kicking and the decision making. Heathfield from the start used both more effectively, scoring a good try out wide, by George Gomersall, following good line out and line incision.
Both teams were trying to play but the conditions acted against them. Heathfield however were dominant at the line out, securing their own and upsetting Stortford's more often than not. Heathfield's second try, scored by Nick Cook, but came from an excellent driving maul by the forwards from a line out 20m out. Tom Burgess continuously put BS back in their half with some great touch finds.
BS were still competitive with some excellent sorties by their scrum half and line breaks by their blind side flanker. But Heathfield kept repelling them time and again with solid tackling and more often than not turning them over.
BS scored a well worked try wide out through their backs early in the second half.
The second half continued in the same competitive vain, until a 50m break by Lewis Headland got them to within 5 metres of the BS line. Quick support and good handling ended with Oliver Osla-Holt going over by the posts, this one converted by Sean Crozier.
BS never gave up and pressurised the Heathfield line for the last 15 minutes, they scored a try down the blind side, to make it 17-10, but were unable to cross the line again..
A massive defensive game by Heathfield and the ability to take their chances in difficult conditions was the difference between these two good teams.
Heathfield now play the South West group winners Cullompton in the Semi Final of the National Plate at Henley RFC on the 19th April..
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