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Sat 04 Nov 2023 · Counties 1 Kent
Cranbrook
1st XV
15
15
Tries: B Irwin, L DunkleyConversions: T SimpsonPenalties: T Simpson
Neighbours draw in the rain
Philip Bell5 Nov 2023 - 07:43
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Two tries apiece in close contest
Cranbrook 15 Heathfield 15
Kissing your sister is how some describe a draw in rugby as it often gives neither party any particular pleasure. Today I would say that it was probably a fair outcome as neither side deserved to win.
The pitch was in remarkably good condition given the volume of rain in the previous 24 hours and which continued occasionally for much of the first half. There was little wind and given the very slight slope towards the home clubhouse conditions were neutral. Handling was often difficult with the wet ball and understandably there was even more kicking than usual.
Overnight illness resulted in two late changes to the selected side with George Hayter making a welcome return to action after injury and Tom De Bruin also coming on to the bench.
After the opening exchanges Heathfield opened the scoring when No 8 Tom Cornwall picked up from a secure midfield scrummage and made good yards before finding scrum half Ben Irwin in support who then stepped his way through the remaining defence for a fine try, duly converted by Toby Simpson.
A few minutes later Simpson had a penalty chance to extend the lead but it drifted wide. Nonetheless most of the play was in the home half at this stage. Naturally Cranbrook were making plentiful use of ex-Heathfield Colt Fabian Rimmer’s big boot. However they also attempted to run out of their own 22 on several occasions which their coaches may have felt unwise.
After some confused play in midfield (which may be my way of saying that I lost track of what was happening) Heathfield won good turnover ball which was moved wide right through several hands before Liam Dunkley finished well in the corner.
The first half hour had seen some good rugby by Heathfield and a 0-12 score line but thereafter the home side came increasingly into the game. Cranbrook only entered the visitors’ half five times in the first half and reached the 22 just once. On that occasion, near the end of the half, they did threaten the visitors’ try line with some decent carries and support play but solid defence cleared the danger.
At half time Heathfield will have been optimistic of a positive outcome. The set piece was generally even with both sides having an occasional edge in the scrum while the visitors’ lineout looked slightly less secure than the home unit.
Cranbrook now introduced Toby Freeman off the bench. Freeman has recently joined them from Tonbridge Judds and he duly made a significant impact in several ways. He may well have provided some extra go-forward for their pack but he also conceded four penalties in the process.
A few minutes into the half Oli Wigman received a yellow card for alleged trampling on an opponent as he made an otherwise useful carry. Cranbrook soon exploited a penalty into the left hand corner and an efficient lineout catch and drive produced a try in the corner.
Entering the last quarter Cranbrook chose to run turnover ball from their own half and Will Sellick on their right wing scored a fine try with a mazy run from near the half way line, with the Rimmer conversion levelling the score (12-12).
The turnaround in the score will have encouraged the home team and supporters to hope for a first win of their season. However they were now handicapped by a sequence of penalties against them and a card cannot have been far away.
This helped Heathfield who were far from beaten and had rather the better of the next few minutes resulting in two long range penalty attempts - somewhat puzzling as both would have been challenging in good kicking conditions, which certainly did not apply today.
Cranbrook then had no such problems with a simple penalty to give them the lead with about ten minutes remaining. The last few minutes belonged to Heathfield. First Simpson knocked over a straightforward penalty to level the scores. Then an unfortunate knock on gave Heathfield a good attacking scrum but in the process some unwise words by a home flanker led to his being binned. Simpson thus had a chance to win the game from the tee but he pushed it wide and the game ended soon afterwards.
Given the volume of rain on the day we should be glad that the game happened at all which is a credit to modern drainage systems. Nonetheless both coaching teams will be feeling irritated that they did not collect a win.
Next week Heathfield have a second away game in a row when they visit Bromley who lost narrowly at Crowborough today. Apart from league leaders Canterbury there is little between most sides in this very competitive league. (11 Nov 2.30pm)
Kissing your sister is how some describe a draw in rugby as it often gives neither party any particular pleasure. Today I would say that it was probably a fair outcome as neither side deserved to win.
The pitch was in remarkably good condition given the volume of rain in the previous 24 hours and which continued occasionally for much of the first half. There was little wind and given the very slight slope towards the home clubhouse conditions were neutral. Handling was often difficult with the wet ball and understandably there was even more kicking than usual.
Overnight illness resulted in two late changes to the selected side with George Hayter making a welcome return to action after injury and Tom De Bruin also coming on to the bench.
After the opening exchanges Heathfield opened the scoring when No 8 Tom Cornwall picked up from a secure midfield scrummage and made good yards before finding scrum half Ben Irwin in support who then stepped his way through the remaining defence for a fine try, duly converted by Toby Simpson.
A few minutes later Simpson had a penalty chance to extend the lead but it drifted wide. Nonetheless most of the play was in the home half at this stage. Naturally Cranbrook were making plentiful use of ex-Heathfield Colt Fabian Rimmer’s big boot. However they also attempted to run out of their own 22 on several occasions which their coaches may have felt unwise.
After some confused play in midfield (which may be my way of saying that I lost track of what was happening) Heathfield won good turnover ball which was moved wide right through several hands before Liam Dunkley finished well in the corner.
The first half hour had seen some good rugby by Heathfield and a 0-12 score line but thereafter the home side came increasingly into the game. Cranbrook only entered the visitors’ half five times in the first half and reached the 22 just once. On that occasion, near the end of the half, they did threaten the visitors’ try line with some decent carries and support play but solid defence cleared the danger.
At half time Heathfield will have been optimistic of a positive outcome. The set piece was generally even with both sides having an occasional edge in the scrum while the visitors’ lineout looked slightly less secure than the home unit.
Cranbrook now introduced Toby Freeman off the bench. Freeman has recently joined them from Tonbridge Judds and he duly made a significant impact in several ways. He may well have provided some extra go-forward for their pack but he also conceded four penalties in the process.
A few minutes into the half Oli Wigman received a yellow card for alleged trampling on an opponent as he made an otherwise useful carry. Cranbrook soon exploited a penalty into the left hand corner and an efficient lineout catch and drive produced a try in the corner.
Entering the last quarter Cranbrook chose to run turnover ball from their own half and Will Sellick on their right wing scored a fine try with a mazy run from near the half way line, with the Rimmer conversion levelling the score (12-12).
The turnaround in the score will have encouraged the home team and supporters to hope for a first win of their season. However they were now handicapped by a sequence of penalties against them and a card cannot have been far away.
This helped Heathfield who were far from beaten and had rather the better of the next few minutes resulting in two long range penalty attempts - somewhat puzzling as both would have been challenging in good kicking conditions, which certainly did not apply today.
Cranbrook then had no such problems with a simple penalty to give them the lead with about ten minutes remaining. The last few minutes belonged to Heathfield. First Simpson knocked over a straightforward penalty to level the scores. Then an unfortunate knock on gave Heathfield a good attacking scrum but in the process some unwise words by a home flanker led to his being binned. Simpson thus had a chance to win the game from the tee but he pushed it wide and the game ended soon afterwards.
Given the volume of rain on the day we should be glad that the game happened at all which is a credit to modern drainage systems. Nonetheless both coaching teams will be feeling irritated that they did not collect a win.
Next week Heathfield have a second away game in a row when they visit Bromley who lost narrowly at Crowborough today. Apart from league leaders Canterbury there is little between most sides in this very competitive league. (11 Nov 2.30pm)
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