Charlton Park 25 Heathfield 11
Heathfield travelled to South London with a mostly young team including several first team league debutants and came up against a bigger pack with some wise old heads. The game hinged on a few crucial moments but the home scrummage became the dominant factor on the day. As some commented afterwards, this was a game that could, if not should, have been won.
Conditions were more suited for cricket than rugby on a warm, sunny day with little cloud and only a slight breeze. The pitch had a fair covering of brownish grass over a hard surface. Water breaks were essential.
Park had first use of the slight slope but Heathfield probably shaded the opening period as several penalties kept the home side on the back foot. There was one penalty where the referee clearly indicated contact above the sternum although some felt too many other high tackles were missed throughout the game.
Park had a penalty chance just after the quarter hour but it was wide. Heathfield started to build some good pressure and an attack developed promisingly. A long miss pass looked likely to produce a clear overlap but the looping pass was too slow and a home centre was able to intercept and had the gas to go under the posts. (7-0)
Heathfield continued to look promising. A Park penalty kick to touch was missed and run back effectively. This time the passing was accurate and finally reached debutant Tom Hibbard on the left wing who danced down the line to finish well in the corner. Sadly he received a knee in the ribs in the process and had to retire, replaced by another new face at this level Zak Dunn. (7-5)
Penalties were now exchanged to produce a 10-8 score line. However from the restart after the Heathfield penalty, Reion Raybe on the Park right wing outjumped the green players to secure the ball and a few phases later good hands gave them an important score in the right hand corner. (15-8) Raybe has always been a dynamic and effective player causing plenty of grief for opposition teams over many years.
This was soon followed by another exchange of penalties (18-11). Park looked to have a good attacking opportunity from a fine 5-22 kick but Heathfield were having an excellent day in the lineout and the threat was cleared. The half ended was a long range penalty attempt by Harry Reilly but it clipped the outside of the post.
At this stage the game seemed much in the balance with neither side in control. Heathfield were clearly edging the lineouts with Tom Tingley nicking several opposition balls. There had been no more than four scrums thus far. Neither side was dominating the break down.
Initially the second half seemed to follow the same pattern. Heathfield were perhaps trying to be too clever in some of their handling when simpler options might have been better. Handling errors started to creep into the game on both sides as the hot conditions took their toll leading to more scrums where Park started to achieve a significant edge.
Then Park achieved a good position in the visitors’ 22 and at a resulting breakdown Joe Lewis was binned for some malpractice. Park opted for a scrum and when this disintegrated the referee awarded a penalty try, also yellow carding Ollie Tooke.
With a two man advantage it might have been expected that Park would seize the opportunity to pile on the points. In the event they failed to add to their total while they had such a big advantage which reflects well on the defensive efforts by Heathfield and indeed most of the play in this period was in the home half.
Replacement Will Chambers had joined the fray at half time: another debutant Aiden Plumley later came on to make a promising contribution with some notable tackling.
In the remainder of the game Heathfield looked more likely of the two sides to score. They went very close in the bottom left hand corner but a surge by Dylan Eames was just contained two yards out.
In the last minutes the home fly half was sent off for a high tackle but Heathfield were unable to take advantage in the time remaining.
The Heathfield scrum had been hit on the morning of the game by the withdrawal through illness of George Walter. Even with him it would have been a struggle against probably the largest front row to be faced in the league this season.
Apart from that phase there was much to be positive about in the Heathfield performance. The lineout was good and generally handling by the whole team was decent. Some felt afterwards that coordination between forwards and backs had been lacking – this is a young team with new combinations which will take time to develop.
As well as Tingley who had a fine all round game, Tom Cornwall also made some strong contributions both in carrying the ball and with some crucial turnovers at the breakdown.
Next week Heathfield entertain near neighbours Crowborough who opened their campaign today with a good win over Cranbrook. (23 Sep 3.00)
Team
Tooke Lawrence Webb Eames Lewis Cornwall Tingley Pincus Westgate Cuming Hibbard Irwin Reilly Brown SlinnHawkins
Replacements
Chambers Dunn Plumley
Scorers
Hibbard Try Reilly Conversions (2)