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Sat 30 Sep 2023 · Counties 1 Kent
Ashford
1st XV
21
17
Tries: T Reilly, J LewisConversions: T Simpson (2)Penalties: T SimpsonYellow Carded: L Cuming
Close loss in Kent
Philip Bell1 Oct 2023 - 08:05
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Home try in final minutes decides contest
Ashford 21 Heathfield 17
Ashford edged past Heathfield in this closely contested RFU Counties 1 Kent league match that the visitors will mark down as a game that they could and should have won. (Cliché but valid!) In recent years Heathfield have just beaten Ashford on several occasions by just one score so this was not surprising, if nonetheless disappointing.
On a remarkably sunny day for the end of September with a breeze directly across the pitch, Heathfield had much the better of the first half hour. It was felt afterwards that they should have collected more points in that period and that eventually cost them a result.
Early on Ashford veteran prop David Connell had to retire with a leg injury – just being there to start at the venerable age of 48 is praiseworthy enough. Early on the home number 8 made a couple of dangerous runs off the base of the scrum but he was thereafter generally contained.
At this stage Heathfield were clearly dominant with majority possession and position. A good attack into the left hand corner was just contained but then a midfield scrum allowed the Heathfield number 8 Tom Tingley to make a dynamic run before being held a few yards out before Tom Reilly worked his way through a heap of bodies for the opening try under the posts, converted by Toby Simpson.
Soon afterwards Reilly made a lovely break from turnover ball but his kick ahead was just too strong. A home flanker was now binned for a high tackle. The new tackle law does not appear to have been fully understood by all involved in the game and there seemed to be plenty of other similar tackles that were not penalised.
Heathfield now had a period of sustained pressure on the home try line, often from very short range, but the defence proved adequate in what was probably a key point in the contest.
However finally approaching the half hour, good ruck ball was worked wide right and Liam Dunkley on the wing was just denied a yard out but sensibly laid the ball back and Joe Lewis was on hand to touch down. This was deserved reward not just for his athletic support on this occasion but also for his increasing effectiveness in all phases in his first season at this level.
With hindsight this was the high water mark for Heathfield and in the last few minutes the home scrum gave an indication of things to come with two penalties in that phase. This enabled them to achieve good position on the right hand side and then work a centre over for a converted try.
The half time score of 7-14 reflected a close contest. The home lineout had wobbled early on but became more effective later. George Walter had done a sturdy job at loose head but now had to retire necessitating a rejigging of the visitors’ front row.
Ashford started the second half strongly into the left hand corner but were just contained with Tingley being one of several noted with important tackles. A turnover allowed Jack Brown a huge run out of his own 22 but his final, and possibly scoring, pass went astray.
After ten minutes of the half Heathfield did have a penalty chance but it went wide. Then another penalty resulted in a lineout in the left hand corner but the otherwise efficient lineout operation failed and Ashford were able to clear their lines.
Ashford now started to build some momentum of their own and a particulatly threatening attack into the left hand corner was just thwarted by a dropped ball. Nonetheless with fifteen minutes remaining they did collect a try under the visitors’ posts (14-14). Some claimed that the scorer had clearly rolled and made a second movement but the referee was very close to the action. Lucas Cuming was binned for a team yellow although it was claimed that there had been no team warning prior to that.
In spite of being a man short, Heathfield were next on the scoreboard with a Simpson penalty to edge them ahead 14-17. Indeed the numbers were soon evened up when a home second row was binned for another high tackle.
Jack Ruddock had a decent game in the tight but he was also noted with some good tackling and one stomping run in a counterattack but he couldn’t find support and the chance was gone.
The rest of the game was somewhat frantic and scrappy. It was afterwards commented that Heathfield been sucked into Ashford’s game rather than trusting their own strengths. Simpson made one characteristic run from defence before being shut down and he will soon settle back into the team after his recent excursion elsewhere
The home scrummage had become increasingly effective and two penalties now gave them momentum which set their team up in the right hand corner where an efficient lineout catch and drive secured the match winning try. Heathfield will justifiably point to the number of front row players unavailable this week.
Results elsewhere suggest that this will be a generally competitive league but Heathfield will need to start collecting more than today’s losing bonus point. This will be difficult to achieve next week when one of the three unbeaten teams in the league, Canterbury II, visit Cross In Hand (7 Oct 3.00)
Ashford edged past Heathfield in this closely contested RFU Counties 1 Kent league match that the visitors will mark down as a game that they could and should have won. (Cliché but valid!) In recent years Heathfield have just beaten Ashford on several occasions by just one score so this was not surprising, if nonetheless disappointing.
On a remarkably sunny day for the end of September with a breeze directly across the pitch, Heathfield had much the better of the first half hour. It was felt afterwards that they should have collected more points in that period and that eventually cost them a result.
Early on Ashford veteran prop David Connell had to retire with a leg injury – just being there to start at the venerable age of 48 is praiseworthy enough. Early on the home number 8 made a couple of dangerous runs off the base of the scrum but he was thereafter generally contained.
At this stage Heathfield were clearly dominant with majority possession and position. A good attack into the left hand corner was just contained but then a midfield scrum allowed the Heathfield number 8 Tom Tingley to make a dynamic run before being held a few yards out before Tom Reilly worked his way through a heap of bodies for the opening try under the posts, converted by Toby Simpson.
Soon afterwards Reilly made a lovely break from turnover ball but his kick ahead was just too strong. A home flanker was now binned for a high tackle. The new tackle law does not appear to have been fully understood by all involved in the game and there seemed to be plenty of other similar tackles that were not penalised.
Heathfield now had a period of sustained pressure on the home try line, often from very short range, but the defence proved adequate in what was probably a key point in the contest.
However finally approaching the half hour, good ruck ball was worked wide right and Liam Dunkley on the wing was just denied a yard out but sensibly laid the ball back and Joe Lewis was on hand to touch down. This was deserved reward not just for his athletic support on this occasion but also for his increasing effectiveness in all phases in his first season at this level.
With hindsight this was the high water mark for Heathfield and in the last few minutes the home scrum gave an indication of things to come with two penalties in that phase. This enabled them to achieve good position on the right hand side and then work a centre over for a converted try.
The half time score of 7-14 reflected a close contest. The home lineout had wobbled early on but became more effective later. George Walter had done a sturdy job at loose head but now had to retire necessitating a rejigging of the visitors’ front row.
Ashford started the second half strongly into the left hand corner but were just contained with Tingley being one of several noted with important tackles. A turnover allowed Jack Brown a huge run out of his own 22 but his final, and possibly scoring, pass went astray.
After ten minutes of the half Heathfield did have a penalty chance but it went wide. Then another penalty resulted in a lineout in the left hand corner but the otherwise efficient lineout operation failed and Ashford were able to clear their lines.
Ashford now started to build some momentum of their own and a particulatly threatening attack into the left hand corner was just thwarted by a dropped ball. Nonetheless with fifteen minutes remaining they did collect a try under the visitors’ posts (14-14). Some claimed that the scorer had clearly rolled and made a second movement but the referee was very close to the action. Lucas Cuming was binned for a team yellow although it was claimed that there had been no team warning prior to that.
In spite of being a man short, Heathfield were next on the scoreboard with a Simpson penalty to edge them ahead 14-17. Indeed the numbers were soon evened up when a home second row was binned for another high tackle.
Jack Ruddock had a decent game in the tight but he was also noted with some good tackling and one stomping run in a counterattack but he couldn’t find support and the chance was gone.
The rest of the game was somewhat frantic and scrappy. It was afterwards commented that Heathfield been sucked into Ashford’s game rather than trusting their own strengths. Simpson made one characteristic run from defence before being shut down and he will soon settle back into the team after his recent excursion elsewhere
The home scrummage had become increasingly effective and two penalties now gave them momentum which set their team up in the right hand corner where an efficient lineout catch and drive secured the match winning try. Heathfield will justifiably point to the number of front row players unavailable this week.
Results elsewhere suggest that this will be a generally competitive league but Heathfield will need to start collecting more than today’s losing bonus point. This will be difficult to achieve next week when one of the three unbeaten teams in the league, Canterbury II, visit Cross In Hand (7 Oct 3.00)
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