Bromley duly collected the bonus point win which the league table had suggested was likely but not before Heathfield had provided a serious challenge for much of the game. The visitors’ scrum dominance was the decisive factor.
Both teams included a significant number of players under 21 which bodes well for the future of both clubs. Nonetheless mention must be made of Steve Griffiths, Bromley’s replacement prop who is a mere 56 – respect!
The game was played on the Wilson-Rhodes pitch which had remarkably been described as unplayable a week earlier in what remains disputed circumstances. It was soft in places and duly cut up but allowed a good contest. Earlier one of the Bromley players on arriving at the clubhouse had commented that ‘we always get muddy coming here.”
An early Heathfield scrum gave a foretaste of things to come as Harry Westgate did well to retrieve the ball at the base of a scrum under pressure. He went on to have a very decent game in difficult circumstances.
As the game settled down a kicking duel developed which ended advantage to Heathfield with a lineout near the visitors’ 10m line. Good possession was then carried on well by Jay Massey-Taylor in midfield and after a couple of phases Ben Irwin worked his way over to open the scoring, duly converted by Toby Simpson. Massey-Taylor, playing out of position on the flank, took an early heavy knock but went on to have a strong game as did Irwin who was also one of the key players mentioned by the coaches afterwards.
Naturally Bromley responded with a period of pressure into the home half at the end of the first quarter. What looked a straightforward penalty chance was now fluffed by their kicker.
Continued Bromley pressure into the left hand corner produced a penalty which was quickly taken and Jo Lewis was duly binned for not being 10m from the tap. Then a nice break by their fly half led to a try on the right hand side. The conversion was also missed and Heathfield can be glad that the Bromley kicker had a day to forget with just one conversion of their five tries.
Heathfield replied almost immediately with a Simpson penalty from the visitors’ 10m line. However Bromley were starting to build some consistent pressure. On the half hour an attacking lineout provided good ball which was worked wide for a try on the right hand side to level the scores 10-10.
Bromley then took the lead with some clinical play following a scrum penalty, and their only conversion on the day. Heathfield finished the half on the front foot following a useful run by Simpson into the right hand corner but the visitors’ defence just proved adequate.
At half time the Bromley coaches will likely have urged their side to exploit the obvious scrum superiority as an early scrum now illustrated. Indeed most of the second half was played in the home half and too many scrums for the home team’s liking.
Details about the second half are minimal as mist shrouded much of the action.
The scrum penalty count started to rise and eventually tight head Rees Webb was binned. He was faced by a strong young prop who was probably 5 stone heavier and a big hooker who has played at much higher levels so he had a tough day at the office but still contributed elsewhere.
Even so it was not until near the end of the third quarter that the majority possession and position produced a simple Bromley try on the blindside from another dominant scrum.
The only other Bromley score came with less than ten minutes remaining when they turned over a Heathfield scrum and thus had a straightforward finish in the right hand corner.
Given the intense pressure on the home try line in this half Heathfield should take considerable pleasure in the efficiency of their defence against one of the higher scoring teams in this league.
No 8 Tom Tingley had a character-forming day at the base of the scrum and although he had to retire briefly through injury he made some significant contributions throughout. Jo Lewis also caught my eye with some useful work in lineout and breakdown. All of the front row did well under serious pressure.
Bromley looked a well-organised side with their back row and half backs being particularly effective. They are deservedly contesting the promotion place in this competitive league behind the cuckoo in the nest of Canterbury II.
After a week’s rest Heathfield next visit the other serious promotion candidates Dartfordians with whom they had a desperately close contest earlier in the season. (2 Mar 3.00)