H&W RFC vs Uckfield RFC

Uckfield RFC Colts v Heathfield & Waldron RFC Colts – 17th November 2019
Result: 51-7 (win for Uckfield)

It seems very strange to be regarding a defeat by 44 points as anything other than a shoulder-slumping disappointment but, in fact, there was much to be heartened by for Heathfield supporters in this performance. This was a very young side – predominantly of U17 players – with only two of the U18 age group available, one of whom was playing out of position having being shuffled across from the nice, safe position of wing to the rather grittier role of blind-side flanker. In contrast, Uckfield were able to field a side with both weight and considerable experience, with powerful runners in the pack and centres in particular.
Heathfield kicked off and the opening 15 minutes were evenly fought on an unsurprisingly heavy pitch, until Uckfield’s fly-half ghosted through a midfield gap. Subsequent desperate Heathfield defence, with Sam Walley making several splendid tackles against opposition twice his size, proved not to be quite enough, as Uckfield barged over following a series of tight drives. A good conversion from the right added the extras to make it 7-0. The next 20 minutes saw the Uckfield pack begin to assert some dominance with explosive one-off runners and well-constructed pod work close to the rucks sucking in Heathfield defenders: a switch move from one series of phases allowed the open-side to find space on the blind-side and stride home from almost the half-way line, and there were two further scores, one of which was converted off the right-hand post, in the remaining ten minutes of the first half. In the midst of all this, Heathfield had attempted their own attacks – Cameron Reader, tackling ferociously and running hard with ball in hand, was a noticeable presence in this, and Finn Scott-Taggart and Jon Beaton strove hard to find gaps in an impressive home wall. However, a score of 31-0 at the interval worried some observers that the gap could be much more than twice that by the end of the game.
Heathfield skipper Jack Flint, who was playing a good game until forced off by a very uncomfortable-looking shoulder injury in the second half, rallied the troops at half-time. They responded with half-an-hour of very competitive, determined and utterly compelling rugby. Tight-head Brad Scott had several strong, barging runs, Ellis Wilson continued to carry well and tackle hard whilst getting through a mountain of work for his side, and the diminutive Kieran Dudgeon (now on as a replacement on the right wing) tackled bravely and was part of several good linking movements as Heathfield tried to force their way back into the game. Matt Anthony harassed well at blind-side and Angus Paterson, now moving to the unaccustomed position of number eight, enjoyed an excellent second half with several blasting runs and uncompromising tackles. Working themselves back down the pitch and with Uckfield giving away several penalties in a row as they defended on their own line, it was Heathfield’s Wilson eventually who reached over the line for a score which was just reward for his own excellent performance and for that of his side’s efforts. Tom Reilly knocked over a well-struck conversion. A score on the right for Uckfield was a good response though, and two late scores for the home side with further breaks made by some impressive strike-running, widened the gap again to give Uckfield a well-deserved and comprehensive win.

Team: 1. Ollie Tooke; 2. Brad Scott; 3. Jack Dunnell; 4. Jack Flint (c); 5. Ellis Wilson; 6. Matt Anthony; 7. Sam Walley; 8. Sam Tiley; 9. Finn Scott-Taggart; 10. Tom Reilly; 11. Jon Beaton; 12. Angus Paterson; 13. Cam Reader; 14. Jon Beaton; 15. Hamish McAlister
Replacements: 16. Kieran Dudgeon (20) for Hamish McAlister; McAlister for Jon Beaton (35); Beaton for Flint (58)

Scores:
14 mins: Uckfield – try and conversion: 7-0
19 mins: Uckfield – unconverted try: 12-0
25 mins: Uckfield – try and conversion: 19-0
30 mins: Uckfield – unconverted try: 24-0
33 mins: Uckfield – try and conversion: 31-0
Half-time score: 31-0
42 mins: Uckfield – unconverted try: 36-0
48 mins: Heathfield – try (Ellis Wilson) and conversion (Tom Reilly): 36-7
50 mins: Uckfield – unconverted try: 41-7
68 mins: Uckfield – unconverted try: 46-7
70 mins: Uckfield – unconverted try: 51-7
Full-time score: 51-7