Haywards Heath Colts 10 Heathfield Colts 14

This was Heathfield Colts first set of matches with the Colts-A playing Haywards Heath Colts and the Colts-B playing Uckfield.

Heathfield travelled to Haywards Heath on an unseasonally warm, pleasant afternoon but knew immediately, from the size of the HH squad and the physical size of the players, that this was going to be anything but a stroll in the park!

Before the match started, the Heathfield and Haywards Heath players stood for a minutes silence in memory of Kevin Pearce, a stalwart of the squad and club, who sadly and suddenly died on Friday.

From the start of the match, the physicality at the breakdown was a huge step-up from the season’s previous matches and both teams were prepared to run the ball. This led to some quite fluent and attractive rugby from both teams. However, after about 10 minutes, it was evident that Heathfield were getting the upper hand in both territory and possession and kept constant pressure inside the HH half.

Eventually, after a series of scrums and line-outs near the HH line, HH cleared poorly and gave Heathfield an attacking 5m lineout. HH tried to stop the drive from the lineout but Heathfield managed to roll infield through several phases of maul and ruck. When the ball was released to the backs, Harry Reilly popped accurately to Max Ellery running an excellent line at pace which just allowed him to reach the try-line to open the Colts scoring account for the season. Reilly converted to take the score to 7 – 0.

The next 10 minutes saw Heathfield camped in the HH half with only the occasional HH foray into Heathfield territory. Heathfield were winning most of the line-outs, regardless of who was throwing in and the Heathfield scrum was devastating the HH pack, freely winning opposition put-ins by driving HH backwards, often at a rate of knots!

However, Heathfield failed to turn this possession and territory into points with a combination of bad decision making, inaccuracy in the pass and knock-ons disrupting continuity of play. It also has to be said that HH defended extremely well to force some of these mistakes but nevertheless, Heathfield failed to convert their dominance into points!

The next score came from one of HH’s occasional forays into the Heathfield half. Good work in their backs saw a breakaway through the middle of the pitch and eventually forced an error from Heathfield when they gave away a penalty for offside in front of the posts. HH converted taking the score to 7 – 3 which is the way it stayed until half time.

Half Time: Heathfield lead 7 – 3.

The 2nd half saw Heathfield kick-off and well won ball was again knocked on in a good attacking position. This relieved the immediate pressure for HH but again Heathfield attacked.

After 5 minutes a scrum 20m out was won with Henry Jolliffe, passing excellently all match, finding Reilly challenging the gain line. A decoy switch with Toby Warren allowed Reilly himself to find the gap in the HH defence and slide through untouched for Heathfields 2nd try. Reilly converted taking the score to 14 – 3.

Heathfield continued to play with a measure of poise but were still not making the most of the possession and territory they had. The breakdown was still contested with Heathfield not clearing as well as they should have been doing and giving scrappy ball for Jolliffe at scrum half.

Indeed, it was from scrappy ball that Jollife was to be carried off after 15 minutes with what appeared to be a serious knee injury as he tidied up loose ball from the back of a ruck. Joe Sandford came in from wing to replace Jolliffe and Harry Vidler went to the wing.

This signaled a revival from HH and a corresponding lull for Heathfield. HH started to carry well and attacked the Heathfield line with far greater cohesion and desire. The introduction of Tom Poynder on the flank helped as he injected a bit of fire to the HH pack and, considering he played for just 20 minutes, was my HH MoM!

After 20 minutes, HH found themselves camped within the Heathfield 5m line but stuck right in the corner. They mounted wave after wave of attack but Heathfield kept them out. Eventually though, and after about 4 minutes of the same, HH moved the ball wide and had a massive overlap to score almost unopposed close to the posts. The conversion took the score to 14 – 10 and yet another nail biting finish to a match between these two teams!

Stern words under the posts and a steeling of resolve saw Heathfield begin to take the game back to HH. The final few minutes of the game were again spent in the HH half with Heathfield controlling most phases of play and dictating the tempo of the game. Finally, the referee signaled last play, Heathfield comfortably won the scrum and Reilly sensibly kicked to touch for Heathfield to win this opening tie of the season.

Needless to say, a game of this nature highlighted a whole host of things to look at and work on; things that looked good in previous games where points were easily scored became a little suspect in this one. Game sense is definitely not tested when we score 30 or 40 points in matches but most definitely is highlighted as something to work on for tight games! Having said that, a good win for Heathfield in a tight and well contested match, and just the right start to the season.

Full Time: Heathfield win 14 – 10.

Team: Golding, Borg, Ellery, Ross, Vater, Wardle, Wrenn, Bayly, Jolliffe, Reilly, Koopst, Warren, Lloyd, Sandford, Hastings; Vidler, Taylor, Morrell