Heathfield & Waldron Ladies and Canterbury Ladies are well-matched sides who have already met twice this season with each winning one and they duly fought out this fiercely contested NC 1 league match with just one try apiece.
Heathfield played up the slight slope in the first half in remarkably good conditions for late January with a generally firm dry surface and no significant wind.
The game was particularly noted for the 50th appearance of Sophia Skinner for Heathfield Ladies where she has been central to the team’s progressive rise through several levels of the RFU leagues,
The early exchanges were even with most play in midfield. In a couple of early scrums Canterbury looked to have an edge with their distinctly larger front row. This enabled a good attack from deep with their full back joining the line at a good angle and who looked to have a clear run to the try line but Sophia Macdonald (Mac) showed her class with a fine covering tackle.
A few minutes later a speculative kick ahead by Canterbury was well followed up and recovered for quick hands to put their winger into the left hand corner.
Heathfield naturally responded with Becky Taylor and Amber Lovick being prominent in some strong carries at this stage. Good scrum ball on the visitors’ 22 was then well exploited by Chip Chippett and Megan Baker before the ball reached Mac who finished well. The conversion was narrowly wide to leave the score at 5-5.
Canterbury will now have been handicapped by an injury to their athletic number 5 who had made a couple of useful carries.
Heathfield now had majority possession and position with long periods in the visitors’ 22. One tap penalty saw skipper Carol Saunders over the line but the ball was ripped and the chance was gone.
Canterbury did have one strong attack into the bottom right hand corner but in a confused period of play they appeared to try to argue with the referee which is never wise and Heathfield duly worked their way back upfield.
At half time both sides will have been optimistic of a result although Heathfield would have the slight slope in their favour hereafter.
Heathfield duly started strongly and an attack into the bottom corner was only just denied. A couple of incidents at this point reflected the feisty nature of the contest.
In fact almost all of the second half was played in the visitors’ half. This reflects well on the Canterbury defence which had to withstand extended periods of pressure against a home pack who probably shaded the breakdown.
With very few minutes remaining Heathfield put together a decent handling attack into the bottom corner but Mac was just denied a couple of yards out.
Most of this game was fought out between the two packs in midfield. While the Canterbury scrum initially seemed dominant the home pack fought back and had at least parity if not more in the second half. Steph Chipps was afterwards picked out for her performance in this phase and more generally with some strong work ball in hand.
When trying to identify the best players on the day for Heathfield Ladies it is usually almost impossible to avoid noticing Saunders and Becky Taylor and they again duly delivered. Taylor edged the nomination today with one hand off that had spectators, safely away from the action, grimacing in recognition.
Otherwise Lib Lawrence was widely praised for her gutsy and effective work at the base of the forwards and some often brave individual sallies. Caitlin Flower at fly half had a decent game with assorted kicks and some well timed off loads although Heathfield never achieved the penetration that their level of possession might have expected.
Next week Heathfield entertain Ellingham & Ringwood in the National Quarter-Final of the Womens’ Intermediate Plate. Ellingham & Ringwood are a Hampshire club so they will have a long coach journey to enjoy the warm Sussex welcome. (4 Feb 2.00 tbc)