Heathfield secured a rare away win in South London with a nine try win over Blackheath Ladies who are having a difficult season. This keeps them very much in the conversation in the top half of the league table.
Conditions were excellent with little wind on an occasionally sunny day and a firm well-grassed surface.
Heathfield played down the slight slope initially and had the game won in the first quarter. Having secured possession from the kick off Heathfield immediately showed a willingness to keep the ball in hand with handling across the pitch. Equally the referee quickly stamped his authority on the game with several penalties for high tackles – although an early yellow card for a home back was for hair-pulling in the tackle.
Scoring was opened by Georgia Grey as a tap penalty was worked through several hands before she charged over on the right hand side. Megan Plane converted as she did with four other tries on the day.
Most of the play was in the home half with consistent pressure on the try line and Georgia Reed-Davies was held up in a heap of bodies. Good possession from a subsequent lineout was moved into midfield and this time there was no doubt as skipper Carol Saunders reached over the line.
On the quarter hour Laura McGee collected solid lineout ball and was pleasantly surprised by the home side choosing not to engage – so she happily galloped away and touched down almost untouched. (0-21)
The bonus point try came on the half hour when for a change Heathfield were back in their own half but good hands, including a significant carry by Abi Bandtock, moved the ball to McGee and she broke the last tackles to run in from near the halfway line.
The last try in the half was probably the best of the day. First Britt Mole made a brave and accurate turnover at the breakdown near the halfway line and the ball was moved wide right before being switched back to the left for Chip Chippett to dive into the corner. Blackheath were still tackling bravely but this was some quality play that would have challenged most teams.
Blackheath started the second half positively as they turned over a Heathfield scrum but things then continued downhill for them. More good hands moved the ball to Chippett on the left wing and she made good yards before Bandtock arrived in support and claimed the score.
Almost immediately another attack along the left flank saw Becky Taylor in the clear with just the full back to beat and she unselfishly put Chippett in for her second on the day.
Barely five minutes later Grey claimed her second on the day following a tap penalty.
Coach Dan Suggitt now unloaded his bench – not so much a bomb squad more a ‘bombe surprise’. However injuries to the home front row meant that scrums now had to go uncontested.
What proved to be the last try fell to Plane after some broken play but by now it was plain (sorry!) that Blackheath had run out of players. As 60 minutes had been completed the referee now blew for full time.
While Heathfield will regret losing the opportunity to improve their points for/against balance it would be wrong to do this at the expense of injuring players. Blackheath will benefit from dropping to NC1 in due course. Their full back today Juliette Parsons deserves credit for her brave tackling without which the score would have been even worse.
McGee naturally caught the eye on a day which suited her athleticism but the coaches were just happy with the overall performance while regretting the loss of game time for the bench. Sterner tests lie ahead so the depth of cover for all positions is important.
While the womens game in undoubtedly thriving and growing, there are still problems as illustrated by Blackheath today. The withdrawal of Thurrock II from the league means that there are just two games left before Christmas and also just two for the Harriers.
After a week’s rest Heathfield next visit Old Alleynians who they have never played before although Heathfield’s men have been there in recent years – not often successfully it should be said!