Allez Les Vert!!!
Heathfield & Waldron 16s 59 vs Shoreham U16 12
Report by Will Chambers
Pics will follow

France was not the only team going for a Grand Slam this weekend. Joe Sanford’s u16s team from Heathfield & Waldron were seeking the same glory in the final game of the Sussex u16 League this Sunday. It was a winner takes all game, that if lost would mean the title would go to Horsham RFC.
The stage was set and conditions were perfect for an open and running game of rugby. In that respect both teams did not fail to deliver.
Shoreham commenced proceedings with a high kick deep into the H&W pack. The ball was collected by the H&W Number 8: Michael Abourous who had an outstanding game consistently breaking the gain line creating space for the home team. The first try came from a penalty from a ruck allowing Will Zlattinger to kick long, which was collected and recycled for Aidan Collins to collect and touch down. Heathfield & Waldron did concede a number of penalties for offences in the ruck which allowed them to create an attacking lineout deep in H&W line. With Shoreham throwing into the lineout, the ball was won by Joe Murphy. With the ball won and cleanly recycled, this allowed space for the backline to create a wonderful miss-pass to Oliver Das to use his searing pace to slice through the Shoreham defence.
Despite the number of penalties conceded by H&W the forward dominance in the scrum and lineouts, together with the seamless interplay between the back line, meant that it was hard for Shoreham to capitalise on the advantage given with a penalty.
Shoreham’s game plan had to change, and it was clear the coaching team decided to play a game of territory and to put the H&W full-back under pressure with towering kicks. Fortunately for Shoreham the first kick paid dividends as Ben Chambers mistimed the kick and created a chance with a knock-on. However, Chambers was not phased by this uncharacteristic error and defended the following surge by Shoreham with a crunching tackle that was acknowledged by the crowd. Following this Chambers did not put a foot wrong, collecting every kick without fail and either returning with long kicks deep into the Shoreham half or running hard lines. He was rewarded with 2 tries in the game and following a quick tap from a mark deep in his 22m, ran through the Shoreham back line selling 2 outrageous dummy passes to put Cole Mackenzie on for the first of his 2 tries. The confidence and maturity that Chambers displayed was rewarded with a well deserved Man of The Match award.
A quick restart by Shoreham was neatly collected by scrum-half George Lee who passed onto Aidan Collins to break past his opposite winger and score under the posts. Most teams would capitulate under such pressure, however Shoreham never gave up and just before half time, Shoreham used their strong pack to score a well worked try in the corner, after applying much pressure and winning a well fought penalty. This was converted from far out to leave the score at the turn-around 31:7 to Heathfield.
At half time, coach Joe Sanford made a number of changes in the pack and back line. The new line-up meant that the Shoreham pack were able to capitalise on the try in the last few seconds of the first half. The Shoreham pack played a physical and tight game which allowed them to score another try early in the second half. Fortunately for H&W, some further changes in the team with Alfie Hunter coming on with some wise decisions the back line and Edward Ward switching to scrum-half to distribute quick ball allowed them to emulate much of their first half dominance with further tries from Ollie Das and Aidan Collins.
Once again Shoreham’s pack did not give up and in the closing seconds of the game had a try opportunity that was held up by some strong defence from H&W.
The final score of 59:12 to H&W meant that they finished top of the League and now have a strong platform to build from for Colts rugby next season. It cannot be under-emphasised the amount of time and effort put in by Head Coach Joe Sanford and Assistant Coaches Trevor and helper Mick.

TEAM:

Thomson, Reader, Thomson, O’Halloran, Goldsmith, Baldock, Murphy (capt), Abourous, Lee, Hellewell, MacKenzie, Das, Zlattinger, Collins, Chambers
Subs: Burfield, Burfield, Hunter, Sumner, Walters,Ward.

Trading 4 U Man of the Match: Ben Chambers