Heathfield 20 Crowborough 18
Pics credit to Roger Cuming
Rugby can be cruel. Crowborough were denied in the last moments what would have been a deserved win, by a Heathfield side who again showed character under pressure, admittedly some of it self-inflicted.
Conditions were good for the time of year with little wind initially and a dry firm surface. Heathfield had first use of the slight slope and soon had a good opportunity with an attacking lineout in the left hand corner. However the lineout went wrong and Crowborough cleared their lines. An early score at this point might well have caused the visitors’ heads to drop as they are having a difficult year. In the event this was a first chink of encouragement on which they were to build very effectively.
Nonetheless Heathfield were looking dangerous ball in hand and most of the play was in the visitors’ half so a penalty was a fair outcome, duly slotted by Toby Simpson. Liam Dunkley had a big run down the right flank but couldn’t find a supporting runner as the cover defence got to him. Crowborough were competing well and secured two important turnovers but it soon became apparent that their major asset on the day was their scrummage. The home scrum was under severe pressure for much of the game and conceded several penalties.
Crowborough were having to kick out of defence which just fed the home back division who duly charged back. Chances were starting to appear but the execution was too often faulty just when a score looked likely. Harry Slinn Hawkins made one lovely run, chipped ahead only for the bounce to just elude him with the line at his mercy.
From another Crowborough kick Lucas Cuming ran back strongly and was just denied by some brave tackling near the line. Cuming also soon afterwards kicked nicely towards the bottom corner and the resulting attack looked promising but yet again a penalty ruined the opportunity.
With all the play in the visitors half some were becoming concerned that this pressure was not being turned into points. Another attack into the bottom corner ended with the ball being held up. Then another good move going wide left looked promising but yet again the last pass was grassed.
Finally another good run by Cuming into the right hand corner was carried on by Jay Massey-Taylor who finished well and Simpson added the extras.
The half time score of 10-0 was an unsatisfactory reflection of the positional dominance that Heathfield had enjoyed in spite of the scrummage issues. Colt Henry Millington came on at half time to replace Dunkley. Millington was one of three Colts in the Heathfield side today along with Slinn Hawkins and Cole Taylor Mackenzie and they all showed that Heathfield can produce quality rugby players. Relative old man Archie Adam (at 20!) also did well off the bench.
Ollie Tooke was noted with some fine tackling in spite of being under severe pressure in the tight while Sam Crichton was sometimes making useful carries.
Crowborough started the second half brightly and after ten minutes they had a scrum midfield inside the home 22. They duly collected a pushover try from that unusual distance. However, as the referee afterwards commented, Heathfield did remarkably well to keep their shape in those circumstances when many front rows in those circumstances would have crumpled and conceded a penalty and probable yellow card – to be a man short could thereafter could have decided the game.
Heathfield did manage some attacks into the visitors half but Crowborough were growing in confidence as they started to build successive moves into the bottom corner. Slinn Hawkins almost pulled off an interception but eventually Crowborough worked their way over for their second try, crucially unconverted, to take the lead 10-12. This was soon followed by a Crowborough penalty and they certainly had some momentum at this point. This was reinforced with nearly ten minutes remaining with another penalty to open an 8 point lead, thus requiring two scores for what looked at that point an unlikely home win.
However the rest of the game was almost entirely in the visitors half as Heathfield finally showed some urgency and passes were sticking. Good handling across the pitch resulted in an attacking lineout under the home balcony which was driven over and would have been given as held up but one of the defenders was adjudged to have entered from the side and thus prevented a score. The resulting penalty try still left Heathfield one point behind with very few minutes left (17-18).
Attacking the restart enabled Heathfield to keep Crowborough penned back in their 22. Quite rightly Crowborough used their strong scrum to keep control of the ball and run down the clock, securing a scrum penalty. They chose the take another scrum in the hope of further running down the clock but the ball had to be used and at the next breakdown Heathfield were awarded a penalty for holding on. Simpson nervelessly put the ball between the points to collect an unlikely win.
Afterwards there was much sympathy for Crowborough who many would feel deserved a win but the final outcome reflected the differing seasons being experienced by the two teams. Crowborough have become accustomed to losing and didn’t have the confidence to close out the game – Heathfield have won several close games and have developed a team belief to help them secure apparently unlikely results.
On a day that saw a distinctly below par performance by his team Head Coach Dave Cook picked out Massey Taylor for his defensive work. He was part of a back division which is showing considerable promise (if they don’t b*****r off to uni and we never see them again).
Next week at the regular February time of 2.30, Heathfield entertain Deal who today secured an impressive away win 36-39 at Charlton Park.