Seaford Scarlets, their Ladies first team, duly won this Sussex Cup semi-final although it was a much closer contest than the relative league positions had suggested. Seaford are winning their NC2 division while Heathfield are mid-table in NC3. The outcome rested on taking chances and Seaford just did enough in this respect.
Games at Seaford are typically influenced by the weather. Conditions today were as benign as I can remember with a firm dry pitch. The sun shone occasionally! Inevitably the home enjoyed the breeze in their favour in the first half and it seemed to die away in the second. How do they do that?
Seaford started the stronger and soon established position in the visitors’ 22. A fine turnover by Kayleigh Honeyball helped to contain this early pressure. However Seaford were soon able to work their way over for the opening try with less than ten minutes on the clock.
Although most of the game was in the visitors’ half at this stage they rarely achieved any significant penetration. Heathfield’s defence can take plenty of credit for this although it has to be said that Heathfield soon recognised use of possession by the home side was relatively predictable. Reportedly the home fly half, who is more normally a flanker, frequently opted for an inside ball and the defence was generally able to absorb the pressure.
Gradually Heathfield started to come more into the game as they were having a fair share of possession although much of the game was still in their half. With about 25 minutes gone Ella Vawer made a huge break from broken play in her own half and had a clear run for the line. She was just thwarted by a fine tackle back but it still enabled Heathfield to make their first serious incursion into the home 22.
This led to a period of pressure on the home try line with two successive tap penalties on the home 5m line, both taken by Honeyball, and Heathfield will be disappointed not to have scored from such promising situations.
Seaford finished the half strongly but again without threatening the try line.
Having had the wind against them, Heathfield will have been well pleased to have limited the damage to just one score so the final result was very much open to question. In the set piece neither side dominated the lineout but Heathfield had a disappointing and puzzling day in the scrummage, losing several balls on their own put in although they did not seem to be under particular pressure in that phase.
Heathfield started the second half well and had a period of possession in the home half. Penalties helped to keep the pressure on and eventually good recycled ball was moved across the pitch and Ellie Lynam dived over on the right hand side. Emily Bigwood then slotted the conversion to take the lead (5-7).
Skipper Poppy Eacott finally had to retire hurt and Rachel Marchesan took over at scrum half where she proved especially effective with quick reactions and providing useful injection of pace.
Neither side was fully in control and on a firm pitch it increasingly became a test of fitness – which both sides passed with credit. In spite of playing against the breeze, Seaford probably had more of the game in the second half but still without penetration.
As the game entered the last ten minutes it became a question of whether Heathfield could hang on to their slender lead and secure an unexpected win. Former Heathfield player Meg Baker-Butler went close in the right hand corner to keep the pressure on and she was probably one of the home side’s most effective players on the day from which Heathfield will take some ironic pleasure.
Finally Seaford moved the ball left and they were able to work their way over from short range for the decisive try. Baker-Butler converted impressively.
In spite of Heathfield’s efforts Seaford managed the last few minutes of the game and the final whistle soon went.
Apart from those mentioned above, I noticed Toni Norman with plenty of good work and Ella Ellis with some strong carries. Coach Dan Suggitt was delighted with the whole team performance against a higher rated side. There were several relative newcomers to the game in the side today who will have learned much from this competitive encounter, with Nat Weston getting particular mention.
With three games left in the league season and places in the first team very much open to competition, the team looks to be in a good place. Next Sunday they entertain league leaders Dorking II who have only lost one game this season. (12 Apr 2.00)