Heathfield 18 Maidstone 23
Could have won? Yes. Should have? Debatable. Maidstone just defeated Heathfield by three tries to two in a close albeit error-strewn contest. The visitors took their chances well while Heathfield will rue some poor options at key moments. Both clubs are struggling, along with many others, with player availability, chiefly with injuries: sadly several more were added to the list in today’s game.
In lovely conditions with little wind Heathfield had first use of the slight slope but almost immediately Maidstone charged up to the other end and secured a penalty (0-3). After that the game settled down and it looked as though it might be a close contest. Maidstone collected their first try when they turned over a home lineout and then after several phases good hands gave their left wing a simple run in (0-10). Matt Ryan now replaced Tom Cornwall in a tactical change and Ryan made a very positive impression.
Maidstone were retaining the ball well when they did have possession and also looked keen to counterattack from deep so at this stage the home side were being asked questions. At the end of the first quarter a Maidstone centre was binned, apparently for illegal use of his forearm. Meanwhile Heathfield’s injury woes continue as second row Kobe Tonkin limped off to be replaced by prop Reece Webb and then Lucas Cuming had to be replaced after a brave last ditch tackle resulted in probable concussion. Cornwall returned, out of position, to fill the full back slot and did well there in the circumstances.
In spite of the disruption from injury the home pack was starting to generate some momentum and they now turned over the ball following a lineout, the ball was moved wide and eventually Tom Tingley popped up on the left wing to run in from twenty metres out for an important score, converted by Harry Reilly (7-10).
Tom Glenn was having a good contest with his opposite number and on several occasions his footwork took him in behind the first line of defence. He now made a lovely break and his chip ahead was only just tidied up by the defence but a penalty was given for a late challenge on Glenn and Reilly duly levelled the scores (10-10).
Heathfield continued to build some pressure and just one penalty at the scrummage was a minimal reward for Shrek Watkins who had a very effective day against his opposite number. Reilly finished the half with a fine long range kick (13-10). So the home side had recovered from 0-10 down to take the lead.
The home scrummage was generally solid but the lineout had a patchy day. As well as going well in the scrummage Ollie Stables was also noted with tackling and carries, earning him the MoM later.
The visitors made an important early score as they worked the ball wide left and then a chip ahead bounced up beautifully for an easy run in, although the conversion was missed (13-15).
Sadly Sam Claassens-Dussek now had to retire with a very painful elbow injury so veteran Richard Poole joined the fray.
A few minutes later Heathfield regained the lead as pressure into the visitors 22 and a quick lineout was exploited by Glenn with a precise kick into the far left corner and Charlie Butler was able to collect his first try for Heathfield (18-15).
From the restart Ed Koops emerged with the ball and made many yards before being hauled down as he looked for support. The game was right in the balance and Glenn was just wide with a drop goal chance in a period of Heathfield pressure. However Maidstone surged back and Poole was now binned for alleged cynical behaviour at the breakdown and the scores were levelled with the resulting penalty.
One of the decisive moments now arrived as in open play Dan Jones, on his debut for Heathfield, made an interception and would have had an easy run in but was adjudged to have been off side. Maidstone almost replied from a powerful and skilful run by their scrum half who was just held short of the try line. From the resulting scrum Glenn, making a decent clearance kick, was flattened illegally by a charging Maidstone flanker who was duly binned.
Entering the last quarter the final and decisive score arrived as a penalty gave the visitors good position in the right hand corner and after several phases they scored on the left hand side (18-23). This was probably deserved as much of the last period was played in the home half. Heathfield had chances but poor option selection and errors killed the opportunities.
At the very end Heathfield turned over a visitors’ scrummage on the home 22 but Reilly’s long kick to the far corner was too long and the final whistle went. It has to be noted that Maidstone fielded a 52 year old as their reserve prop – respect to Richard Gray.
As the league table takes shape Heathfield will rue this as a missed opportunity but at least they collected a losing bonus point. On the plus side Heathfield again fielded a very youthful side, especially in the back row, so experience is being built at this level which will pay off over the season.
Next week Heathfield visit high-flying Beckenham who will provide another stern physical test (6 Oct 15.00).