Old Colfeians 52 Heathfield 8
The score line suggests that this was a one-sided affair which would be very wrong. However Colfeians did have one major area of superiority, the scrummage, and that decided the game.
The Heathfield starting 15 showed five changes from last week’s successful side as injuries and availability meant that the pack was one of the most youthful and inexperienced that Heathfield has ever fielded. They were faced by a pack composed of generally larger and more experienced individuals, most of whom played in the higher league up last season.
There was little wind and occasional rain initially became more persistent later on. Colfs played up the slight slope in the first half. The early exchanges suggested there was little between the sides and Heathfield soon collected a penalty, taken by Harry Reilly with sadly his only successful kick on the day. Colfs were putting together some decent attacks but the visitors’ defence looked to be in good order. Colfs did manage one big drive off a lineout but did not use that tactic again.
Guy Kennedy, in his first game for Heathfield, now had to retire with a shoulder injury and was replaced by Guy Quitterton.
At the end of the first quarter a missed visitors’ penalty was soon answered by a home penalty (3-3). However Quitterton also now had to retire, also with a shoulder injury so the visiting replacement bench was looking sparse as Ryan Vater made his debut – clearly not a day for Guys wearing the 7 shirt.
A few minutes later Heathfield pressure into the left hand corner resulted in a penalty and Munch May grabbed the ball, tapped and went past several opponents for a fine opportunistic individual try (3-8).
At this stage it seemed a good contest with Colfs power generally being contained by some efficient Heathfield defence. The lineout was working adequately although that dropped off in the second half. Another debutant Sam Claassens-Dussek was noted with some useful tackling. He was playing alongside Ed Koops who also put in a tough shift on the day. Koops, Claassens-Dussek – a distinctly Dutch aspect to the second row.
However the home scrummage was starting to take its toll and they rotated props so as to keep some fresh legs in that area. Some of their big men, in particular the number 6 Billy Ramdhan, were described by observers as wrecking balls who took plenty of tackling which was generally achieved.
The game turned in the few minutes before half time. Colfs exploited an attacking scrum in the visitors 22 and eventually drove over for an easily converted try (10-8). Then at the other end another visitors’ penalty drifted wide and Colfs immediately ran back for another well-taken try (17-8) – although many pitch side observers saw a clear accidental offside in the build up. So in a few minutes Heathfield had gone from leading to looking at a big deficit, and having to play up the slope in the second half.
At the start of the second half this immediately worsened as the kick off was dropped and the resulting scrum was driven over for another seven pointer.
Heathfield were still playing some decent rugby and Lucas Cuming went very close with a clever run at the end of some good handling but the home defence just held. Cuming had an excellent game overall with some serious tackling and several other handy runs.
The game was ended as a contest with half an hour remaining as Colfs scored two tries in quick succession, the second from a pushover (38-8).
With ten minutes remaining a secure scrum allowed the home side to run a training ground move for a try under the posts and the game ended with another pushover as the rain closed in.
Given the reorganised and very youthful team and the opponents, most of whom had played in the higher league last year, Heathfield were disappointed but not surprised at the outcome. There are plenty of very winnable games in this league and the quality of the performance in many areas of the game suggest that league points will come as injuries heal and players return.
Next Saturday Heathfield entertain Maidstone (29 Sept 15.00).