Canterbury Pilgrims duly collected a bonus point win over Heathfield in one of the poorest games I have watched this season. Conditions played a big part in making it difficult for any decent rugby. Nonetheless, as happened today, a half in which there are more cards than points scored is never going to be much good.
I am jealous of professional journalists who have the best seats in the house, perfect internet connection and access to key participants who are trained to provide memorable quotes. This is being typed on a darkened coach hurtling along waterlogged lanes with deeply unpleasant throbbing so-called music playing while I contrive to produce a few coherent words from sodden notes.
Enough of my pleasures – the pitch was firmer than might have been expected given recent rain although the persistent rain on a cold day meant that the surface was slimy and ball handling was always tricky. Frequent knock-ons and other handling errors inevitably led to a much interrupted game.
Canterbury had first use of a strong wind. Just over ten minutes in a penalty gave them a good attacking position in the left hand corner and an efficient lineout was duly exploited for their first try. Generally the home lineout was more effective on the day with Yannick De Mowbray being especially productive at the front.
Heathfield immediately replied as good hands took them into the home half and Toby Simpson collected a resulting penalty. However Lucas Cuming now had to retire for injury handicapping the visitors midfield defence although he returned later on.
From the restart Canterbury somehow reclaimed the ball and good hands resulted in a decent try into the left hand corner. (12-3)
After a period of scrappy midfield play Canterbury scored the best try on the day as they disrupted a Heathfield scrum and moved the ball into midfield where their fullback Harvey Young ran a lovely line to canter over under the posts. Soon afterwards they collected the bonus point try in the left hand corner with good handling across their backs – sealed with a fine conversion from the touchline in swirling conditions.
Shortly before half time Canterbury chose to try for another three points rather than going for the corner suggesting that they regarded the result as still being in doubt with the wind to come in Heathfield’s favour in the second half.
In the event the second period was one of the dreariest pieces of rugby I have endured recently. Heathfield scrapped well with skipper Gus Taylor leading by example and being involved in almost everything but conditions generally won over worthy endeavour.
The visitors’ scrummage was under some pressure after Olly Smith retired while the lineout remained a lottery for both sides. Tom Reilly managed some fine touch-finding kicks with wind assistance but the faulty lineout meant that the opportunities were wasted.
Refereeing in these conditions is a thankless task as frequent but correct whistles can be seen as disrupting the flow of the game but the referee cannot ignore obvious errors. Nonetheless I do wonder if penalising not straight at the scrummage late in the game was appropriate in these circumstances.
The last quarter of the game saw increasing outbreaks of niggle between the sides. This at least reflects Heathfield’s strong team ethic even when losing. Canterbury probably had more possession in this half and their back division often looked dangerous but Heathfield’s coaches will take pleasure in the effective defence even with the changed personnel which prevented any further scoring.
The last quarter was mainly notable for two pairs of yellow cards as the referee tried to manage the irritation between the teams. In separate incidents Liam Dunkley and Ollie Tooke were binned along with a home player each time.
Generally Heathfield were unable to exploit the wind in their favour in the second half so there was no scoring after half time.
The final score was in line with other Canterbury results this season but Heathfield will have returned home with a distinct feeling that they are better than they showed today and will look forward to the return fixture in March, injuries and availabilities permitting.
Apart from Taylor, I particularly noted George Hayter with some robust work and useful contributions by Will Chambers.
Next week Heathfield again board a coach at an unreasonably early hour on a Saturday morning for their visit to Dover who Heathfield just beat at the start of the season but who are always a different proposition at home (13 Dec 2.00).