Colts start Sussex League campaign

Heathfield started this match heavily in deficit of players through injury and unavailability and fielded 15 with one U16 player, Will Ross, joining us to cover for any injuries. Rob Flett captained the side.

Pulborough kicked off and immediately took control of proceedings with good ball retention, offloading and continuity. After 10 minutes of pressure, Heathfield ran a set piece move from a linout 10m from the Pulborough line. This allowed Jack Koops to run his usual cracking line to round the defence and score under the posts. Henry Ross converted.

During this time though, Pulborough’s scrum managed to do what no other has done… possible ever! They shunted us backwards at a rate of knots!!! There was a look of confusion and shock on the faces of the forwards but thankfully they restored a semblance of order to proceedings and began to take control at the scrums. Heathfields linout worked well with Isaac Brown and Henry Ross the target jumpers and Alex Borg finding them accurately.

Heathfield maintained territory and pressure from the restart and kept attacking the Pulborough line. However there was little change coming from them as they tackled resolutely and kept Heathfield at bay for a further 10 minutes. Eventually though Heathfield scored through Fergus Diplock from a 5m linout with the ball moved wide through several phases.

Half Time: Heathfield lead 12 – 0.

Heathfield restarted the half and kept on where they had left off. After 5 minutes of attacking the Pulborough line, a deft pop from a tackle found Jack Smith surging onto the pass at pace to score under the posts. Ross converted to take the score to 19 – 0.

Again, most play occurred in the Pulborough half but Heathfield found it difficult to break down the Pulborough defence. Finally though, Koops scored again close to the posts and with Ross converting his 3rd the game was settled with a bonus point at 26 – 0.

All credit to Pulborough though as they fought back and scored their own under the posts try when Heathfield lapsed in concentration and failed to defend a quickly taken tap penalty. Unfortunately the conversion missed and the match ended 26 – 5.

Full Time: Heathfield win 26 – 5.

Mention must be made to Jack Smith who played his best match for the Colts by some distance, to Jamie Wardle who again tackled the opposition to a standstill and to Rob Flett on captaining well and playing much of the match with what turned out to be a broken finger. We wish you a speedy recovery Rob.

Team: Davies, Borg, Smith, Ross, H., Brown, Wardle, Lloyd, Flett, Jolliffe, Diplock, Burdett, Sills, Parsons, Jones, Koops, Ross, W.