U15 Greenies grind out away win at Hove.

H&WRFC’s U15 team travelled to Hove for the first away game of the season. By some spooky coincidence the two teams had met exactly a year ago when the Greenies had beaten the A side in a famous home victory.

It was apparent from the start that this home team were going to fight hard to protect home honour and the tackling was resolute right from the start. Initial exchanges were a little fiery with the visitors being warned for indiscipline. Just passion. Chester battled in the centre spinning like a seasonal Catherine Wheel and often broke the first line only to be tackled in possession by the support defence. Running the ball back from a clearance Sam Benians linked with Josh Toyn on the right wing to make all the territory back with interest. Matt McGarvey bulldozed over to get the first score up. Chester converted.
Heathfield then had the lion’s share of the possession and territory but simply failed to break through for the rest of the first half.

At half time Head Coach John Parsons (now a part- time pedigree dog breeder), called for calm, and to stick at the task, and believe in being able to break the opposition down with the Greenies’ legendary fitness.
The second half saw more hard defence from the Hove team, and they turned the table and were close several times using the penalties that seemed to rack up against the visitors. Using their biggest ball carrier who seemed hard to thwart, they came close too many times for comfort.

Cameron Carr ran from deep and linking with the backs in midfield got into the opponents twenty two. A try came from No 8 Miles Geldart only to be disallowed as the referee found himself in a poor position and obstructed play. Not disheartened and utilising another scrum and sustained forward pressure, Hooker Lawrence Osman carried the ball over for a well deserved and long overdue try.

Hove bounced back and quickly got a try back from what can only be described as a mad scramble and if TMO’s were available there surely would have been a case for obstruction, with one Hove player running into his own player and still getting over the line. Last score of the day came from Caio Mann – on the right wing getting reward for another Carr run.

Short of the injured Captain Henry Paul, the Greenies won well, perhaps not Champagne rugby, but won ugly all the same. Benians was outstanding at Full back, Carr a real Yeoman effort and Liam Parsons was often seen linking with the backs in true supporting flanker style. Man of the match has to be Angus MaCleod who came in at loose head to cover for the injured captain, and never strayed from the task. Propping against the biggest member of the opposition looked like he had been there all season. Well done to Chester Duff who converted all the tries and lost 5 balls in the back gardens of the surrounding houses – a feat I’m sure will be remembered on tour next year.

Match Report by James Geldart