Heathfield 8 Deal & Betteshanger 10
Deal edged past a young Heathfield side as the experienced visitors’ pack took control in the second half. Heathfield had just won the earlier fixture between these two clubs so honours are even for yet another year.
Conditions were excellent for mid-February with a firm, dry pitch taking a stud and no wind to mention.
Heathfield started brightly and were soon rewarded with a penalty, duly slotted by Toby Simpson. Sam Crichton and George Hayter were both noted with useful carries while skipper Tom Cornwall made a couple of useful early turnovers at the breakdown.
Approaching fifteen minutes from broken play on the left hand side near the half way good ruck ball was worked wide right to reach Simpson who chipped ahead and regathered for a fine try. Crucially in hindsight the conversion was missed.
The home back division looked threatening throughout the first half although the coaches were unhappy about some of the options. Nonetheless Heathfield were clearly on the front foot based on adequate possession and some strong running. The pressure was building on the visitors and so did the penalty count. After a warning it was no surprise when the Deal inside centre Luke Armstrong was binned for malpractice at the breakdown.
A good Heathfield attack into the top corner was foiled by a penalty offence. A relatively rare Deal counterattack was rocked by a particularly dynamic tackle on the outside centre by Jay Massey-Taylor who was generally noted for his defensive work on the day.
The man advantage was soon cancelled out by a yellow for Dan Canneaux for tackling a man off the ball. Deal were managing some visits to the home half although they were handicapped by missing touch or kicking the ball dead from penalties on a couple of occasions.
There had been very few scrums in the first half but Deal now collected an important penalty from that phase to open their account ten minutes before the interval 8-3.
At half time the game was completely in the balance with the slight slope to come in the home team’s favour but in the event this proved irrelevant.
Hayter and Liam Dunkley were now replaced by Jack Ruddock and Archie Adam both of whom made positive contributions in their own way.
Deal soon secured a penalty under the home posts and interestingly chose a scrummage rather than the easy three points available. However the home scrum held up and the subsequent drive was held up so it felt as though a significant moment might have happened. Soon afterwards Deal looked to be building a good attack in the home 22 but an attempted drop goal barely reached waist height.
Deal were then handicapped by a justified yellow for their no 8. However they continued to have majority position and possession as Heathfield struggled to escape their own 22.
Jem Macvicker was noted was some important tackling in this period to add to his excellent lineout work where he normally secured his own ball and managed to disrupt some of the Deal ball. Ollie Tooke out of position on the flank also secured some decent lineout ball.
Pressure was building on Heathfield as the Deal pack turned the screw in the scrum and in close quarter driving. As the distinctly older team they may well have benefitted from the frequent injury pauses for their own players which to some extent nullified Heathfield’s wish to play a high tempo game.
Pressure was causing the penalty count to build against Heathfield which enabled Deal to establish good field position in the left hand corner. They duly worked lineout ball through a couple of phases before muscling their way over for a deserved try with just over ten minutes remaining. The conversion proved to be the deciding score.
Heathfield have won some close games this season from similar positions. However possession remained hard to secure and errors ruined the few chances along with an unnecessary yellow for Harry Slinnhawkins who had had an otherwise decent game.
Deal deserved the win through their use of their strength in the pack in the second half. The home coaches gave particular credit to all of their front row for their efforts in difficult circumstances.
Heathfield will be disappointed by the result but their young players will have learnt much from the experience. The home squad of 18 included 7 players of 21 or less. There is no surprise or disgrace in losing to a much older and streetwise pack such as they faced today.
The result leaves both teams in comfortable mid-table. Results elsewhere are notable for the two bottom sides beating teams at the other end of the table. Such odd results will occur as some teams are clear of relegation or promotion issues while others are still fighting for every point.
Old Alleynians are still theoretically not sure of winning the league but nobody seriously doubts that outcome. Heathfield will be part of confirming that position as they have to play the top three sides in the coming weeks starting with a trip to Dulwich next Saturday (18 Feb 2.30).