Heathfield just edged out Deal in this well-contested Counties 1 Kent contest between two mid-table sides. As with the earlier match between these two teams the home side claimed the win by one score.
Heathfield again fielded an unusually young team with seven of the starting fifteen being twenty or less as injuries and availability stretched player resources. Conditions were good with little wind on a grey day. Some of the pitch was good but one side was very soft as Sussex clay dragged at runners’ legs.
An early scrum pointed to problems for the home side as the Deal pack charged forward to turn the ball over. In the event Heathfield secured possession from just three scrums all game and were often under severe pressure in this phase.
Nonetheless Heathfield built some useful pressure into the right hand corner helped by one notable run by Liam Dunkley. Quick ball was then worked left and a try looked likely but the handling broke down just a couple of yards out.
Deal duly worked their way back through some good support play and looked threatening into the left hand corner. However Dunkley intercepted some ten yards out and then had the legs to outstrip his pursuers to go under the posts, converted by Toby Simpson, with ten minutes on the clock.
Five minutes later Deal looked to have secured comfortable possession at a scrum but Tom Tingley made a key tackle to turn the ball over and good hands by several including Lucas Cuming and Ben Irwin ended with a fine try by Zak Dunn (12-0). Dunn, one of Heathfield’s younger players, had an especially strong first half.
The game was flowing all over the pitch. Heathfield ruined one good opportunity as a penalty kick to touch went long (a common error by both sides on the day) and then Deal messed up an attack when penalised for crossing in the home 22.
With five minutes left in the half a Cuming interception was exploited by Simpson and Tingley but the chance went with a knock-on. William Wallis was noted a useful carry at this point.
In the last minute of the half Dunkley made another important run before kicking ahead and Zak Dunn and Ollie Tooke followed up to win a penalty. Given the time left in the half, the sensible decision was made to take the points and Simpson duly delivered for a half time score of 15-0.
There is just a slight slope on this pitch but it is clearly not significant since all of the points today were scored at the ‘top’ end. In the first half the penalty count was 4-8 against Deal but this was reversed in the second half (9-6).
Indeed Deal had majority possession in the second half so the Heathfield defence takes considerable credit for limiting the damage to just one try and one penalty.
While Deal certainly had dominance in the scrum they never really exploited that advantage thanks to some doughty efforts by the home front row and some over-enthusiasm leading to free kicks for early push which enabled Heathfield to relieve the pressure.
After just over fifteen minutes the Deal pressure was rewarded by a try under the posts following some good support play as the home defence was finally beaten. Ollie Best converted.
Deal continued to have most of the position and possession but they were unable to find the necessary penetration. Heathfield did break out on a couple of occasions and one attack into the left hand corner looked promising but the last pass was inaccurate.
Deal pressure was finally rewarded with less than ten minutes remaining with a simple penalty in front of the posts which Best duly knocked over. George Walter was binned from this incident for going off his feet.
Deal will have hoped to exploit the extra man to snatch a late win but the home defence continued its generally good work on the day. This included some solid scrummaging by Craig Martin, a late call up shortly before the game, who is normally a second team stalwart and who can take much pride in his performance on the day.
The last few minutes were frantic with the home coaches clutching their heads at some of the options but finally the ball was kicked out.
The result puts Heathfield just ahead of Deal in the league table with two games remaining. Both teams will end in solid mid-table whatever happens.
Dan Bird was much applauded afterwards for his performance on the day in spite of carrying an injury. He was part of a front row unit who all emerged with credit in holding their game together while under severe pressure but still contributing in other phases.
Although not mentioned above, there was general agreement afterwards that Harry Westgate was Heathfield’s standout player on the day with some brave work at the base of the scrum and plenty of strong contributions elsewhere.
Next week Heathfield visit Dover who are just above them in the league table. (23 Mar 3.00)