Bromley eventually collected the win that the relative league table positions had suggested was likely but not before Heathfield had threatened to gain an unexpected win in a close and entertaining contest. The first half of this game was one of the best quality periods of play that you will see at this level with the referee afterwards confirming how much he had appreciated being involved.
Conditions were good on a mostly, and thankfully, sunny day with little wind and a generally sound surface although the Sussex clay was soft enough to sap the energy out of players' legs as became increasingly apparent in the second half.
Bromley just regathered possession from the kickoff and then retained possession through multiple phases. The home defence was mostly doing well but the first penalty of the day gave the visitors an easy chance of three points, duly taken.
Heathfield charged back and pressure at the breakdown saw Jo Lewis follow up a hack ahead and gather the ball just short of the try line but he was adjudged to have made a double movement in placing the ball. Other opinions are available.
The visitors continued to threaten ball in hand and a good handling move down the left flank looked to have just evaded the cover defence when the winger tripped over a molehill and the chance was gone.
Bromley continued to have majority possession but Heathfield were managing some critical turnovers and were benefitting from excellent box kicking by scrum half Harry Westgate. Unlike the recent England examples, these kicks were well judged in the game situation and in distance with following runners often able to put recipients under pressure.
From one of these kicks down the left hand touchline Harry Slinnhawkins made a well-judged and brave leap to regather the ball over the head of his opponent with the ball being carried on strongly by Tom Tingley. A try looked inevitable but the final pass was botched.
This was not the only example of missed Heathfield opportunities in this half but finally the deserved score was collected. Toby Simpson was enjoying the repeated kicks being sent his way and he had made several pacy and tackle-beating runs. This time he again stepped around several tackles before finding Eliott Smith who dived in for his second try in two games. (5-3)
In the last ten minutes Bromley continued to have majority possession although they were handicapped by a missed kick to touch from a penalty and then a missed penalty chance at the very end of the half.
The game thus far had been played at pace, with pleasing ambition and no little skill by both sides. The second half was a tenser, rather scrappy affair and the pace generally dropped as the cloying surface took its toll.
The story of the half was mainly about penalty kicks in different ways. Most of the play was in midfield with neither side really in control. Heathfield were yet again handicapping themselves by conceding too many penalties with 7 in the first half and 9 in the second, double their opponents.
Nonetheless the first scoring chance of the half was a penalty opportunity for Heathfield after ten minutes – one flag went up, one down – no points! This was followed by two penalties for each team over the next 20 minutes to produce a 11-9 scoreline. There was some confusion over the validity of at least one of these penalties with the referee struggling with the low sun and a lack of clarity from the touch judges over which side of the posts the ball had gone. (You've got one job....)
With about fifteen minutes remaining an apparently innocuous tackle situation led to some extended handbags. Eventually Tingley took a team yellow for a high tackle in the play leading to the bustup but nobody was binned for their part in it. From what I saw it could easily have been a couple from each side.
Increasingly frequent pauses in play for treatment for cramp reflected the demanding pace and intensity of the contest. With about five minutes remaining yet another Heathfield penalty gave Bromley good field position and after several phases they worked their way over in a heap of bodies for the match-winning try. The conversion came off the inside of the post to give them a five point lead.
Heathfield did their best to snatch an unlikely result although an impressive Bromley 50-22 pinned them back. A final Heathfield attack was thwarted by yet another penalty and the final whistle went.
The visitors’ half backs had an influential day involving several positional changes which eventually exploited the adequate possession provided by their sizeable and well-drilled pack.
The home defence was particularly praised afterwards for their efforts against a back division that has scored many tries this year with Lucas Cuming and Archie Adam being especially noted. Skipper Gus Taylor and all of the front row unit were also especially praised for their contribution.
Heathfield next visit Beccehamians who have been charging up the table recently after a slow start to the season and who are now two league points above Heathfield. This will be a tough challenge and they will need to maintain the standard set in the first half today. (8 Mar 3.00)