Colts overcome Pulborough in close contest

Heathfield Colts 22 Pulborough Colts 21
Heathfield Colts finally won this entertaining Sussex Premiership Colts League game with the last kick of the match. Both teams scored three tries with Pulborough converting all of theirs but Heathfield missing one so the game was decided by the final penalty kick.
As happened in all of Heathfield’s home games this weekend, before the game there was a minute’s applause by both sides as a mark of respect to Natalie Goldsmith. She was the mother of two children, one in the Heathfield U15s and had been their squad manager but had died tragically and unexpectedly earlier in the week.
In perfect rugby conditions on a firm dry pitch with little wind on a generally sunny day (so no excuses) the visitors played up the slight slope. As usual early play was slightly frenetic but on this occasion it worked to Heathfield’s advantage as good turnover ball was first exploited well down the right wing by Tom Sayers and then good hands moved the ball to the right wing where Elliott Wilson ended a fine piece of play in the left hand corner. Harry Westgate converted well.
Pulborough replied immediately. From a routine midfield scrum they made good yards into the top right corner and then from another scrum worked a man over near the posts, duly converted.
Part way through the half Heathfield started rotating players to ensure that all squad members played at least half a game. With four players away at Sussex trials this was both a demonstration and a test of the depth of talent in this age group.
A brief kicking exchange ended with Finn Smith collecting a kick and counterattacking before being stopped in the visitors’ 22. From the resulting scrum Jack Pincus charged over in the bottom corner.
In the last few minutes of the half Pulborough again attacked into the right hand corner. Initially they looked to have lost the ball but good counter-rucking retrieved it and they finished efficiently under the posts (12-14).
At half time any result was possible but Pulborough started the stronger as four penalties allowed them to build pressure into the home 22. A fumbled scrum gave the visitors good unexpected ball and their left wing finished accurately in the corner, impressively converted, to give them a two-score lead.
A promising Heathfield attack into the top right hand corner was just foiled with another penalty at the breakdown. Not for the first or only time in the game the ball carrier went too far and became isolated. Sometimes pushing for that extra yard exposes the ball and some of this team are not getting the balance right.
Approaching the last quarter a solid midfield scrum gave Heathfield good ball and eventually Callum O’Reilly surged down the right touch line and ended under the posts for an important try, duly converted by Westgate (19-21)
With the game in the balance Pulborough looked to have made a decisive move with an interception in midfield that appeared almost certain to score but a fine tackle back by Tom Samuels saved the day for the home team.
The home scrum had been coming under some pressure but Ollie Wigman moved across to tight head and thereafter Heathfield had a clear edge in that phase.
As the minutes ticked down Heathfield started to play with a real sense of urgency and their pressure resulted in repeated penalty infringements by Pulborough, principally for offside. Eventually they again infringed in front of the posts and although some Heathfield players were enthusiastically looking to tap and go wiser heads prevailed and Westgate duly slotted the winning points.
The Heathfield coaches picked Ronan Osborne and Elliott Wilson as their joint best players. However this still feels like a team that is not yet delivering its full potential.
In next week’s league game Heathfield Colts visit East Grinstead against whom they had a close encounter last month (14 Nov 2.00)