Could have, should have?

Heathfield 15 Dartfordians 20
On a grey afternoon Heathfield were left ruing a game which they could, and arguably should, have won.
Before the game the relative league positions and recent results would have suggested that Heathfield had a difficult afternoon ahead of them. In the event it was only in the last ten minutes that Dartfordians (Darts) drew level and then snatched the win in the last play of the game.
Heavy overnight rain continuing into the morning meant that the pitch outside the clubhouse was unplayable with extensive standing water on a very soft surface. Thankfully the Wilson-Rhodes pitch yet again demonstrated the wisdom of Heathfield in investing so much in what was formerly a farmer’s field. Although it cut up somewhat it was a remarkably decent surface given recent rainfall.
Handling was always difficult, especially in the first half and perhaps inevitably, there was plentiful kicking. This resulted in an unusually high number of penalties for offside from kicks, typically not retreating.
The rain gradually eased during the first half and had stopped by half time. The visitors had first use of the variable breeze although this did not seem to be a significant factor on the day. Heathfield started brightly and a couple of wayward kicks out of defence by the visitors allowed Heathfield to press into the Darts 22. With barely two minutes on the clock good hands moved the ball to Liam Dunkley in the left hand corner and it took some brave efforts to hold him up. However Heathfield ran back the drop out and established a good position in the same corner from which Ollie Wigman worked his way over in a heap of bodies for the opening score.
Darts naturally responded and after some muddled play in midfield they were awarded a kickable penalty towards the end of the first quarter. As a sign of their confidence in their own abilities they chose to go for the corner rather than take the points. This was soon justified as they opened their account off the back of the resulting lineout catch and drive.
Jack Ruddock now had to retire with an injury and thereafter the home scrummage was never very secure. Darts did now choose to try for the points from a penalty chance but importantly it slid past the posts.
Then a visitors’ lineout was turned over (a rare event on the day) with Joe Lewis and Wigman helping to get on the front foot before the ball was moved wide where a chip ahead by Toby Simpson was followed up by Jay Massey-Taylor to claim the try on the right hand side. Notably Simpson then slotted the difficult conversion. (12-5)
This was now an entertaining and fluctuating game but the penalty count was building against Heathfield and eventually Jem Macvicker took one for the team when he was not 10 from a quick penalty. The Darts lineout catch and drive duly delivered another five points but yet again their kicker could not add the extras.
Simpson then had another useful run before the cover just contained him and Darts charged back into the right hand corner. This time their lineout catch and drive crossed the line but was adjudged to have been held up and the whistle went for half time.
The Heathfield set piece was having a difficult day with the scrum under pressure and their lineout critically misfiring. However with the breeze to come in their favour a surprise result was looking possible. Assorted injuries during the half meant that Tom Reilly came off the bench several times as Dunkley and Ben Irwin had to temporarily retire.
Heathfield started the second half brightly and once Macvicker was back on the field they had some good pressure into the right hand corner resulting in a yellow for the visitors' tight head. Heathfield now had several tap penalties from 5 yards out but the defence was just good enough. However finally a penalty under the posts allowed Simpson to extend Heathfield’s lead (15-10).
As the game entered the last quarter any result looked possible. Darts had another chance from a lineout catch and drive but this was somehow held up. Then there was an extended period of play on the half way line as Darts retained possession through multiple phases but could not find any penetration, much to the pleasure of the home coaches. Dylan Eames was noted with an important turnover at this point.
The penalty count against Heathfield had again been growing and with less than ten minutes remaining Tom Cornwall was binned. From the resulting penalty the efficient Darts lineout catch and drive duly produced another five points to level the score.
The visitors now had the momentum and the scent of what had earlier looked an unlikely win with most of the play in the home 22.
An injury to Wigman left Heathfield without a full front row so scrums went uncontested. A clearance kick from a defensive 5m scrum was retrieved by Darts where a desperate Heathfield attempt to move the ball carrier into touch was penalised for not releasing the tackler. The resulting penalty and lineout provided the winning five points and the final whistle went..
The frustration at losing a game that was so nearly won will only be slightly mitigated by the consolation of a losing bonus point. There was much to admire in a whole-hearted team performance against one of the stronger teams in this league. The challenge is now to transfer this level of commitment into performances against lower teams in the league.
Harry Westgate at scrum half against a wily old opponent did some fine work, especially at the base of the scrum while Joe Lewis again had a strong game in all phases. The visitors picked out their hooker Jack Hooban whose efforts in scrum and especially lineout were central to their eventual win – with a worthy mention to their skipper Lewis Potter on his 100th appearance for their first team.
After a week off Heathfield travel to Deal & Betteshanger which is always a difficult place to visit. (2 Dec 2.00)

Competition Postscript
Although it is not yet half way through the league program, the league table suggests that there are now two contests going on. The league regulations are quite clear in stating that 2nd XVs cannot be promoted above this level so Canterbury II will probably win the league but the runner up will be promoted to Regional 2.
This looks to be between Beccs, Bromley, Ctowborough and Dartfordians. A significant points gap is starting to emerge between this group and the rest.
The number of teams relegated depends on what happens higher up the league structure but it will probably be two or three – but could be more, could be less. Every game, every point matters.
In the league below at least one other 2nd XV could be promoted so next season could see two such teams in our league.