Beccehamians 34 Heathfield 17
Beccahamians finally secured the win that the league table suggested but not before Heathfield had rattled the home side later on to show that this was a contest between two well-matched sides.
Much earlier in the season Beccs had suffered a 40-15 loss at Cross-In-Hand so were keen to put the record straight.
Heathfield started brightly with Sam Crichton making the first of his many carries on the day with the ball then worked wide left before the home defence just held out in the corner. Heathfield were clearly on the front foot and as the home side tried to run out of defence turnover was well exploited on the blind side by Harry Reilly and his chip through was gratefully retrieved by Toby Simpson to touch down in the corner, duly converted by Simpson.
With hindsight this was a turning point in the game. Beccs had most of the rest of the half with majority possession from a strong scrummage and big ball carriers with their number eight 8 Isaac Keighley being the key man in their best work.
Initially Beccs worked their way back into the game through a couple of penalties. Then a poorly directed kick out of defence by Heathfield was run back efficiently and from short range in the right hand corner a big home forward charged over for his side to take the lead 13-7.
Heathfield head coach Dave Cook was critical at this stage of his side as they tried to play too much rugby from their own half when positional kicking would have been more appropriate. Beccs were using their big ball carriers to exploit their majority possession and they effectively won the game in this period. They were especially helped by both flankers making repeated turnovers to spoil good Heathfield possession.
Approaching the end of the first quarter Beccs went close in the left hand corner but were denied by a critical interception by Simpson but their consistent possession eventually earned due reward with a try from short range in the left hand corner (20-7)
Jack Ruddock now had to retire with a painful injury and was replaced by George Hayter who more than held his own in the tight and did some good work in the loose.
Continued Beccs pressure from short range was generally being held and at one point the ball was held up with the home fly half then being binned for some unnecessary off-ball behaviour.
However finally the pressure told and a home prop worked his way over from at least a yard out – well converted (27-7).
The ref now found it necessary to have a word with both captains and Heathfield skipper Dan Bird was clearly a live participant in that conversation.
It should be noted that the penalty count in the first half was 2-10 against Heathfield without a yellow card – see below for the second half position.
Heathfield Coach Dave Cook gave his team a wake-up call at half time and they duly responded with Dylan Eames and Will Chambers in particular making a big impact thereafter. Beccs clearly had an edge in the scrum and the lineout was mostly even although Heathfield messed up a couple of potential attacking positions.
Heathfield went close in the left hand corner when Crichton was just bundled in to touch at the corner flag.
However a few minutes later good hands from a scrum gave Simpson a chance in the left hand corner which he happily accepted, and then converted his own try (27-14.). Dan Canneaux was now replaced by Sam Tiley making his senior appearance and he was noted with some useful work.
Although the game was flowing all over the park, most was in the home half and the game was in the balance. Jay Massey-Taylor made one delightful chip ahead and recovered but the defence just did enough.
Entering the last ten minutes Heathfield finally earned due reward when Crichton charged over from short range after a lineout. The conversion just drifted past the right hand post – which would have taken Heathfield into losing bonus point range (27-19).
Aaron Ward now replaced Sean Crozier thus making his first appearance for the 1st team as a worthy reward for his commitment.
Heathfield will have been thinking about a potential bonus point try and even snatching a result but Beccs were not going to be denied and they duly worked their way over from short range to decide the outcome and collect a try bonus point.
Heathfield had one last opportunity in the left hand corner to collect their try bonus point but a lineout went wrong and the chance was lost.
In the second half Heathfield pressure resulted in 11-2 penalty count against the home side as a contrast to the first half figures. It could be argued that both sides deserved a yellow card apiece but I would prefer to compliment the arbiter with keeping people on the pitch.
Tom Cornwall had yet another outstanding game all over the pitch in attack and defence which rarely gets mentioned because he is such a consistent performer.
Otherwise Heathfield will take pleasure from the fight showed in the second half while acknowledging the effective home strength in the first half which decided the game.
Next Saturday Heathfield entertain Ashford in the final league game of the season. A Heathfield win by 12 or more points would mean that they finish fourth in the league table but anything else will result in a fifth place finish. This will have seemed an impossible dream after the season’s opening day loss of 52-19 to Charlton Park.
Heathfield Rangers lost their final league game against Eastbourne 2s and will finish behind that side in league table in spite of winning more games. Don’t ask me for an explanation. But anyone who went out for a quiet drink in Eastbourne this evening does have my sympathy.