On a glorious, hot Sunday afternoon Heath’s U16s took on Crawley at Waldron with revenge set in their minds after last week’s defeat. Missing their no 8 and open side flanker the emergency committee got together and knitted a new team.
The game was played in four quarters and admirably refereed by Hadon Westerby to ensure to ensure the boys health and hydration was paramount.
The 1st quarter kicked off and it was frenetic. Both teams going at each other with little control or patterns of play. Plenty of noise, shouting and aggression but little, quality rugby. Maybe it was the heat, mad dogs and Englishman..... it was a 12pm kick off! At the end of the quarter Heath led 5 – 0. Try from Callum Hallit after some strong forward runs and good running by the backs set up a ruck 5 metres out. Julian fed to the blind side and Callum charged over for the score. At this point we said goodbye to Callum H as he headed off to play for U17s.
The 2nd quarter, with Heath going downhill, should have generated just rewards but with constant pressure on Crawley it was always the last pass, last pick up or covering tackle that prevented Heath from scoring. A better quarter with more purpose and control by Heath.
So 5 – 0 at half time. It was at this point that we then lost Rob James who had made a number of crucial runs and tackles. With two key players off, up stepped Hugh Whitlock and Elliott Buckland.
In the second half, third quarter, Heath started to play proper rugby and with the forwards supporting each other with charging runs it wasn’t long before Rory Cramp scored.
Charging over the line with several Crawley players in his wake. Duly converted outwide by Harry Foster. 12 – 0.
From the kick off strong pressure by Heath’s forwards and midfield led to several errors by Crawley and from turnover ball on the 22 the forwards charged and Jack Smith collected 10 metres out to charge over. Out to the left Harry Foster successfully converted again. 19 – 0. Kick off into Crawley’s 22, driven out by their forwards and they broke out of their 22. With Heath midfield at odds, the outside centre broke through in the clear only for an exocet missile to take him out from the side, in this case James Woods.
Heath countered and from a brilliant DSP, by Harry and Toby, quick second phase sent Ben Robson in for a try. 24 – 0 end of quarter and the Heath u16s were playing rugby!
Final quarter, Heath playing downhill it was all Heath pressure on Crawley. A break by the forwards from half way saw an interchange of passes by forwards and backs to put Rory clear to score his second try. 29 – 0. Heath continued to apply pressure but basic errors and silly penalties saw them pegged back to their 22. A turn over ball in their 22 was passed quickly to Foster who surged through a cap and chipped on. The bounce eluded the Crawley full back and jumped over Foster to land in the hard working Toby Guest’s hands who scampered home for Heath’s final try, duly converted by Harry. 36 – 0.
Tries: Cramp x 2, Hallit, Smith, Robson, Guest
Conversions: Foster x 3