Report by Tim Dudgeon - pics will be added as soon as they are available
It was wonderful to finally see some Colts rugby being played at the Hardy-Roberts Recreational Ground, almost 14 months after the last similar encounter. How it has been missed, but how delighted the home side were to kick-start a short, late season schedule of contact games with an impressive win against their nearest and dearest rivals.
It was Uckfield who kicked off and set the initial pace, their sizeable runners in the pack and midfield taking strong, direct lines and challenging the Heathfield defence to make secure tackles around the rucks with Paterson, Watkins and Samuel all noticeable in this regard. A pattern to the game soon became clear: Uckfield were to use their bigger forwards in an attempt to hammer holes in the Heathfield defence whilst the home side’s lighter fifteen (or twenty-three) were more likely to seek space and utilise their outside backs where possible. Probing punts towards the corner were to supplement this approach for Heathfield and one such early kick to the right corner almost worked, only for the Uckfield full-back to break the clutches of the chasing Heathfield three-quarters and work his way clear with some neat footwork. In the meantime, Watkins at scrum-half was catching the eye with several fine covering tackles alongside dancing breaks for Heathfield, but Uckfield’s work at the breakdown was also making a difference with several penalties won as Heathfield scrabbled, illegally, to win the ball back. Whilst skipper Wilson had already showed good intent with several barging runs of his own, it was he who was to pay the team’s price with a yellow card shown for one infringement too many for the referee’s liking. Despite this, it was still Heathfield who had opened the scoring five minutes earlier with a penalty kick of their own, Reilly knocking over the points from not far short of the 10-metre line. An impressive effort, and also an indication of the realisation that this was indeed a tight match.
Chances came and went, mostly for the home side with one opportunity being missed when a pass was foozled with the line wide open on the right flank, so Heathfield opted to give their replacements their moment with whole-sale substitutions on the half-hour mark. Samuels in the centre remained though, and a further strong tackle from the 13 knocked the ball loose, giving Toby Anderson the prospect of escaping down the right touchline to score. He almost managed it too, and the same could be said for Reilly with a neatly-judged grubber kick only for that strange shape of the rugby ball to lead to a bounce that scooted out of his grasp rather than sitting up in a more helpful fashion to the centre looking to dive into the corner.
Uckfield also continued to strive for territory though, their number 8, hooker, and inside centre most prominent in gaining yards as they battled their way back into the game. Their commitment to the tackle could not be faulted either, and their heavy pack may have had an even greater influence on the game at scrum-time – except the current version of the laws of rugby in these Covid times has temporarily removed them from the game. Nevertheless, 3-0 to Heathfield at half-time.
The second period now saw Uckfield with the potential assistance of a sometimes dampish breeze at their back in the second half, but it was the home side that began to dominate both territory and possession. Although Dunn had also collected his own yellow card earlier, he and his fellow flanker - the excellent Sam Walley - began to win more turnover ball. Flint, O’Reilly and Tooke all carried well into the heart of Uckfield’s defence, but still the visitors stood firm. In the end, it was a loose clearing kick that led to the opening try on 52 minutes – Watkins side-stepped and jinked like Gareth Edwards, allowing fly-half Smith to sweep down the left. A fine covering tackle looked like bundling him into touch, but a pass flung inside found the supporting Dunn who raced past the wrong-footed defence to touch down under the posts. Reilly converted neatly: 10-0.
The final act saw Heathfield’s press defence continue to pressurize their opposition with Dudgeon, Reader and Sayers all making secure tackles on the wing to snuff out any threat there. In the end, a further score with the ball being moved from Heathfield flank to flank allowed ‘Hayter the hooker’ to plunge over. It wasn’t just the elation at actually being able to see some live rugby that made this so enjoyable to witness – it was, in fact, a really good match, marred only by a couple of unfortunate injuries but also by some distinctly questionable hair ‘arrangements’ and cuts. The sooner appointments become more readily available at the local barbers, the better. One final point is worth mentioning, mumbled by those in the know at Cross-in-Hand although with perhaps limited evidence so far: it is rare for a Heathfield side to ‘nil’ Uckfield opposition. What a side this squad might have been with a full season.

Team: 1. Ollie Tooke; 2. George Hayter; 3. Jack Flint; 4. Angus Paterson; 5. Ellis Wilson (c); 6. Sam Walley; 7. Zakk Dunn; 8. Dan Newman; 9. Bryn Watkins; 10. Finley Smith; 11. Cam Reader; 12. Tom Reilly; 13. Tom Samuel; 14. Tom Sayers; 15. Finn Scott-Taggart
Replacements (all used): 16. Ethan Greenlees; 17. Jack Dunnell; 18. Callum O’Reilly; 19. Killian Kennedy; 20. Zac Renmant; 21. Kieran Dudgeon; 22. Toby Anderson; 23. Regan Law

Scores:
17 mins: Heathfield – penalty kick (Reilly): 3-0
Half-time score: 3-0
52 mins: Heathfield – try (Dunn) and conversion (Reilly): 10-0
63 mins: Heathfield – try