Improving Thanet cruise past Heathfield

Thanet Wanderers 44 Heathfield 0
Thanet Wanderers were the comfortable six try winners of this SE2 League match played in excellent but chilly conditions. Thanet have had their own injury issues this season but may have turned the corner on the evidence of this performance and their close defeat at Charlton Park last week. Meanwhile Heathfield continue to struggle to put their best team on the pitch with at least half today’s side being normally considered 2nd team or promising youngsters.
In the first half the home team had the advantage of the slight slope and a breeze over their right shoulder. The first few minutes were breathless as Thanet retained possession through multiple phases as play flowed all over the pitch. Gradually patterns emerged as the home side used some big runners, especially numbers 4 & 8, combined with some skilful off-loading to keep pressure on the visitors. Their first try came from a turned-over lineout and the ball was worked wide for their inside centre to work his way over in the opposite corner. Two more tries came from close range before the visitors started to generate some pressure into the home half. On the half hour this led to a yellow card for the first try scorer for a deliberate knock on in his own 22 during a promising Heathfield attack. However the visitors were unable to take advantage of the extra man and Thanet secured their try bonus point as a penalty gave them good field position in the bottom corner and their fly half wriggled his way to the try line (26-0). Heathfield finished the half strongly but without any return.
Sean Crozier was making a welcome return to Heathfield’s ranks at fly half and he had a busy and generally effective day with some creative play and having to do more tackling than is ideal. Oli Robertshaw was making his belated seasonal reappearance and he did much useful work in the lineout and carrying the ball in heavy traffic. Heathfield’s set piece had a better day this week compared to last week with the scrummage mostly holding and the lineout benefitting from Ollie Stables return.
It was noticeable that Thanet were very efficient at holding up some Heathfield ball carriers and thus either turning over the ball or getting the put in at the following scrum. Some of Heathfield’s younger players will hopefully have learned that their body positions are too upright and that strong experienced opponents will quickly take advantage.
In the second half Heathfield were able to put some pressure onto the home side through some useful kicking out of hand, especially by Crozier. However Thanet were counter-attacking well and extended their lead with two penalties (32-0).
Sadly with about fifteen minutes remaining a Thanet player suffered a serious leg injury and eventually the game had to be moved to another pitch. Thanet have already had three broken legs in this calendar year: Heathfield hope that this injury is not as bad as initially thought and wish the player a speedy recovery.
There is always a slightly anticlimactic feel to a game that has been moved in such circumstances but the decent crowd moved from their clubhouse vantage point to watch the last few minutes. The home scrum half, who had been looking dangerous around the breakdown all day, now spotted a hole which he dived through and then out ran the cover for a fine solo score.
Heathfield’s skipper today was Munch May which was a deserved recognition of his sustained efforts and commitment and he had a typically busy day. He is now the only Heathfield player to have played in every game so far this season. However he now blotted his copybook with a yellow card for malpractice at the breakdown and from the resulting lineout the home pack trundled over the line for the final score (44-0).
Head Coach Dave Cook was particularly pleased with the contributions of some of the new faces and 2nd team regulars who showed considerable commitment and skill. Yeti Palmer, Langdon Wolsey-Cooper, Ryan Vater and David Murdoch were among those mentioned in despatches. At the back Jack Koops and Lucas Cuming are starting to work well together. But Cook gave the most credit to Robertshaw and to Ethan Walker who had a busy and effective day in attack and defence.
Next Saturday Heathfield entertain old foes and friends Charlton Park who only just beat Thanet last week (3 Nov 2.30).