Crowborough 17 Heathfield 29
Pics by Roger Cuming
Heathfield can enjoy bragging rights for the two Sussex clubs in the RFU Counties 1 Kent league at least until early December after they ground out a 4 tries to three win in lovely conditions at Steel Cross in front of a very decent crowd, well into three figures, with the result in doubt for most of the game. The excellent grassy pitch was a credit to the Crowborough Friday Club after a difficult summer.
Last week Heathfield started strongly and barely let their opposition into the game in the few minutes played. This week Crowborough grabbed the early initiative by regaining possession after kicking off and then retained possession through several phases. This led to a penalty under the visitors’ posts and Crowborough efficiently worked a man over to open the scoring, duly converted.
Heathfield naturally responded and generally had the better of the next period of play. A long penalty chance drifted wide and a promising attack down the left wing faltered with a poor final pass. However entering the second quarter more pressure into the right hand corner resulted in a 5 metre scrum and skipper Gus Taylor from number 8 was able to put scrum half Ben Irwin in for a simply taken try.
The game was very much in the balance and Crowborough soon worked their way back into the visitors’ half and then their scrum half happily exploited turnover ball from a scrum for a try. However Heathfield were starting to play with a degree of confidence as evidenced by a successful back flip by Jack Brown that found a supporting team mate (purists may disagree but it worked) and then good hands generally secured good field position in the left hand corner. From the attacking lineout Dylan Eames muscled his way over and Toby Simpson converted to level the scores (12-12).
Heathfield started the second half strongly with one counter-ruck in particular providing good possession and in due course this resulted in a yellow card for a home centre and a simple three points to give Heathfield the lead which they never lost thereafter.
With hindsight this was the decisive period in the game as Heathfield gradually asserted a level of superiority. Good defence with Lucas Cuming earning plaudits from the coaches and strong carries in the forwards, especially from Sam Crichton, started to give the visitors an edge. Harry Reilly was having a strong game in the centre to go with some useful kicking out of hand. All three replacements were used effectively providing useful tactical variations as the game evolved. Additionally many of the team are able to cover more than one position which allows for further positional adjustments during a game.
A good sequence of play involving another strong carry by Crichton eventually ended with Ollie Tooke diving over in the left hand corner (12-22). Although under pressure in the tight Tooke contributes fully in the loose and is becoming a useful player.
Crowborough were a long way from beaten and worked their way into a good position in the right hand corner. Eames was binned for malpractice at the breakdown near his own line and Crowlborough looked to exploit the extra man. They may well then have scored from the resulting lineout but the ref was caught on the wrong side of a heap of bodies so could not give the try.
Play at this stage seemed slightly frantic as Crowborough searched for a way back into the game. They did not help themselves by missing touch three times from penalties which would have given them good position but instead enabled Heathfield to run back at them. The referee, who generally handles slightly higher level games and was well in control of this one, was becoming irritated by the level of chatter and warned both sides.
A lengthy period of play, mostly in the Heathfield half, ended with the ball being worked wide right and the home right winger duly dived over in the corner to reduce the visitors’ lead to five points.
However Heathfield were finishing the game the stronger partly through a purposeful run by Liam Dunkley (he assured me he boshed his opposite number) and Simpson was just denied in the right hand corner. However in the process the home 12 received his second yellow and thus a red card. Heathfield duly exploited the extra man with a try in the other corner by Simpson after some good hands across the pitch. The resulting try bonus point could well be important in a few months.
Crowborough surged back and their right winger again looked dangerous but the cover defence just did enough to deny the home side even a losing bonus point.
Amidst the relief at actually completing a game after a disrupted start to the league season, there was also some ground for optimism in the way the Heathfield team is developing with the mature half back combination thriving and enabling younger players around them.
Head Coach Dave Cook picked out Crichton for particular praise along with Tom Cornwall who had yet another all action game. The penalty count against Heathfield, particularly in the second half, was too high and will be a cause for concern going forward.
Results elsewhere in the league are somewhat confusing with just Ashford (4 out of 4) and Cranbrook (2 out of 2) being the only unbeaten sides so far. It should be noted that Crowborough have already played both of these. Given the disparity in the number of games played the league table is not a true indicator of relative positions.
The Heathfield Rangers (formerly known as Heathfield 2s) had a pleasing 13-5 win over Eastbourne 2s. The ongoing development of the Rangers is an essential element in the support of the first team.
Heathfield will look forward to seeing the Crowborough team and their highly sociable supporters in the last game before Xmas when they visit Cross In Hand on 17 December.
Next week Heathfield entertain old foes Aylesford who have also lost to Ashford and Cranbrook this season (1 Oct 3.00pm).