So this was it – the last matches for Heathfield’s Colts of 2020-21 – a triangular mini-tournament involving Tunbridge Wells and a youthful East Grinstead team, a club whom it has always been difficult to defeat. As if to mark the occasion, a monsoon-like downpour of biblical proportions descended in the half-hour before kick-off, causing many of a considerable-sized spectating crowd to feel suitably smug about the quality of their green wellies. It might have been Barbour coats in times past. However, for those of Irish extraction, it was merely a light smirr of rain and nothing to feel overly concerned about.
In any case, it made for a fairly distinct style of play in Heathfield’s first match against Tunbridge Wells, with Wells having narrowly overcome Grinstead 10-7 in the opening encounter. Kick and slither, short balls and tight drives, with plenty of weather-induced errors to punctuate the game. Heathfield, though, enjoyed the bulk of early possession and territory: O’Reilly made good ground deploying the tactic of hack and chase – an old-fashioned ‘foot rush’ indeed - and, from a resulting penalty, centre Reilly kicked to the corner. However, the line-out was misdirected and Wells escaped, soon to launch a foray of their own. Their own 5-metre line-out misfired though, Jack Flint (having an impressive game in the loose) scrambled to the ball, and Heathfield cleared their lines. Still Wells pushed hard on the Heathfield line and continuous gutsy defensive work, exactly what was required in the conditions, held them out with Tom Sayers making a couple of decisive tackles on the wide right flank. 0-0 at the half-way point.
The second period followed a similar pattern: a tight match with plenty of endeavour on both sides. Wells seemed to be winning a string of penalties as Heathfield infringed regularly at rucks, but there were more positive aspects of play to note: Cam Reader made a couple of crucial tackles on flying wingers, Jack Dunnell proved hard to stop on several charges, and Ellis Wilson led his side in his usual wise and committed fashion. In the midst of all of this, Tom Reilly kicked into space astutely. Harry Sliinhawkins sliced through a gap in the Wells 22, but his pass just failed to go to hand when a try seemed possible. Both scrum-halves – Watkins and Renmant - worked hard in the most testing of conditions for players in that position.
In the end, it was Wells who broke the deadlock – a neat chip through bounced kindly for the chasing wing who sped through to score a good try under the posts. Crucially, though, what seemed a relatively straightforward conversion clanged back – and not over – from the crossbar. 5-0 to Tunbridge Wells. Heathfield were not done yet though: back down the field they went and a fine move, combining backs and forwards, created space out wide for Kieran Dudgeon to finish well on the left. 5-5 seemed, in the end, a just result.

Score (36 minute-game, 2 periods of 18 minutes):
Half-time: 0-0
28 mins: Tunbridge Wells – try: 5-0
33 mins: Heathfield – try (Dudgeon): 5-5
Full-time score: 5-5

Heathfield & Waldron RFC Colts v East Grinstead RFC Colts – 16th May 2021
Result: 5-17 (win for Heathfield)

With the referee for the afternoon (who kept control of affairs in excellent manner) going through more costume changes than a Eurovision entry and now in his third drenched shirt of the afternoon, East Grinstead kicked off this final encounter of the afternoon. The weather now began to ease – some even claimed there was sunshine at one point – and this helped Heathfield’s backs. Reilly’s early kick almost fell to Reader charging through, and Finley Smith’s trickery at fly-half with a couple of ‘show and goes’ pierced the Grinstead defence. Regan Law followed one of these in close, well-timed support: O’Reilly drove close to the line, but it was Sam Tiley’s determined, close, low shove that brought about the opening try after 13 minutes, with Reilly converting it to a 7 point goal with a fine kick from out wide.
The second period, though, saw the home side come back strongly, despite some strong tackles by both Samuel and Reader again, with Greenlees working hard in the loose. A short 5 metre tap led to an unconverted try on 22 minutes: 5-7 and with almost 15 minutes to play, anyone’s game, and only an excellent cover tackle on the speeding Grinstead winger by Slinnhawkins prevented further damage.
Throughout all of this, Ollie Tooke was playing his second excellent match of the afternoon – the ‘quiet but gentle assassin’ cleared rucks tirelessly and efficiently, made every tackle, and produced several thundering runs – ‘player of the match’ almost certainly. Fellow front-row forward George Hayter was also coming into his own now, and one direct, barging gallop saw him clean through, only to attempt a questionable grubber through. Grinstead were to re-secure the ball on that occasion, but weren’t able to repel the attacks that followed. A further drive by Flint and a snipe by Watkins gave Hayter another chance for a damaging blast – this time he timed his pass perfectly to Toby Anderson who did likewise for Finn Scott-Taggart to finish well on the right flank. A final assault on the home side’s line two minutes later saw Tooke go close, but it was Callum O’Reilly who forced his way over for a try with the final play of the game: 5-17. If there were to be a winner of the mini-tournament, it would have been Heathfield on points difference – a fine way to end the strangest of seasons.

Score (36 minute-game, 2 periods of 18 minutes):
13 mins: Heathfield – try (Tiley) and conversion (Reilly); 0-7
Half-time: 0-7
23 mins: East Grinstead – try: 5-7
33 mins: Heathfield – try (Scott-Taggart): 5-12
35 mins: Heathfield – try (O’Reilly): 5-17
Full-time score: 5-17

Team: 1. Ollie Tooke; 2. Ethan Greenlees; 3. George Hayter; 4. Jack Flint; 5. Callum O’Reilly; 6. Sam Tiley; 7. Ellis Wilson (c); 8. Regan Law; 9. Zac Renmant; 10. Finley Smith; 11. Cam Reader; 12. Tom Reilly; 13. Tom Samuel; 14. Tom Sayers; 15. Finn Scott-Taggart
Replacements (on at half-time in both matches): 16. Jack Dunnell; 17. Toby Anderson; 18. Kieran Dudgeon; 19. Harry Slinnhawkins; 20. Bryn Watkins.