London Irish ARFC v Heathfield & Waldron RFC - Colts

Heathfield & Waldron RFC Colts v London Irish ARFC Colts – 18th April 2021
Result: Win for London Irish
When this match was originally arranged, over a year ago now, it is fair to say we were living in a different age and with a different outlook on life and rugby: this was supposed to be a curtain-closing climax and celebration to the conclusion of the season for both sides rather than a tentative curtain-raiser with the spectre of Covid, and all that it has entailed, still glowering over us.
However, it was a game of rugby and, for that alone, it had to be a joyous occasion on a bright spring day with the fresh green of April leaves matching the rising hope of spectators and young players as well as the usual colour of both sides’ shirts. The ‘Wolfhounds Academy’ were able to field two sides, one now in changed white shirts and the others in black, and the format consisted of a series of short matches played according to a version of touch rugby known as ‘Ready 4 Rugby’.
Against the Exiles ‘whites’, Heathfield started very brightly with the first try after 4 minutes as Zakk Dunn pounced on a kick-through for a slightly scrappy but deserved opening score. Irish replied immediately with a score of their own down the left flank, and then a second with a lovely straight line taken by their centre to put the hosts ahead. A cross-kick in the Irish 22 to Finn Scott-Taggart on the left wing saw the ball moved back inside for Finn Smith to score and level things up, but it was a scrambled subsequent score from a pick-up from a kick-through that gave Irish the lead by a single try at the first break. The second period was rather marred by a loss of discipline by both sides with a ‘frank exchange of views’ in the Heathfield 22. Whilst not wishing to condone this, it might not have been altogether surprising: there has been no competitive match rugby for these players for over a year, the rules of ‘Ready 4 Rugby’ have been interpreted slightly differently by clubs, and it is mighty hard for a referee to spot whether a player with the ball has been touched or not and can continue running with the ball. A crunching tackle tends to be rather more obvious and definitive to the adjudicating eye. In any case, it was Irish who came out the better afterwards with three further quick tries as Heathfield failed to deal with some well-weighted kick-offs and Garryowens down the right flank. Seven tries to two was the end-result of the first game.
The second match followed a similar pattern, albeit without the ‘contact’ of the first game. Heathfield showed many useful touches and were competitive, but handling errors proved to be costly, and Irish pounced on them with alacrity. After a lovely break by the powerful and silky-running centre in their black-shirted team leading to Irish’s first score, a second try followed from an ambitious but dropped pass in the Heathfield midfield. Although the visitors rallied after that with good moves of their own, the second half started with a further Exiles’ try from a Heathfield midfield error, and another score down the left – the fine handling and awareness of space of a well-drilled home side was now beginning to show. Heathfield’s line-out was functioning well though (Callum O’Reilly, skipper Ellis Wilson and Killian Kennedy were all prominent) and there was some guile and fleetness of foot in their own backline as well. A break and chip from Finn Smith, and a thundering line from O’Reilly eventually led to a neat finish by Bryn Watkins in the distant left corner of Irish’s 4G pitch. There was still time for Irish to work two final impressive tries though (six tries to one) to conclude the second match.
Two final sessions were to be played and, although the Heathfield effort was spirited, Irish won the first 2-0 and the second 3-1 with further impressive back play. Heathfield did, though, have the final word with Watkins squeezing in on the left following a flowing move.
Sadly, the post-match Guinness appeared to have run out at the outside bar at the splendid Hazelwood home of the Exiles, but there was time to soak up a bit of post-match sun and gaze over to some of Irish’s professional and academy players engaged in a mighty struggle with Wasps on a distant pitch; Declan Kidney and Less Kiss wandered past to look on. And so to what happens next: is the season starting or is it ending? Three matches against Sussex sides in May are in the diary.

Squad:
FORWARDS: George Hayter, Ollie Tooke, Killian Kennedy, Callum O’Reilly, Ellis Wilson (c), Jack Flint, Zakk Dunn, Ethan Greenlees
HALF-BACKS: Zac Renmant, Kieran Dudgeon, Tom Reilly, Finn Smith
THREE-QUARTERS AND FULL BACKS: Tom Samuel, Tom Pedley, Bryn Watkins, Tom Sayers, Regan Law, Jack Dunnell, Toby Anderson, Finn Scott-Taggart, Cam Reader

Scores:
Match 1: London Irish 7 – Heathfield & Waldron 2 Match 2: London Irish 6 – Heathfield & Waldron 1
Match 3: London Irish 2 – Heathfield & Waldron 0 Match 4: London Irish 3 – Heathfield & Waldron 1