Heathfield collected a rare away bonus point win in the Sparrows Den as they edged out Beccehamians by six tries to five in this Counties 1 Kent league match.
Conditions were better than might have been expected given the weather forecast. In spite of earlier rain the sparsely grassed pitch was in good condition and forecast rain did not arrive. The wind was across the pitch and its major impact was on place kickers with just 2 of the 11 tries being converted.
Heathfield started brightly only to be thwarted by a penalty. Holding on was the commonest cause of penalties against Heathfield throughout the game, perhaps reflecting their many attacking opportunities. Horatio Hellewell then had to retire with a bloody nose although he later returned.
However with ten minutes gone secure scrum ball near the half way line was worked left for full back Toby Simpson to join the line and some neat footwork gave the little space he needed resulting in a try under the posts, naturally converted by him.
In the days leading up to the game there had been concern about the composition of the front row for the visitors which had led to veteran Craig Martin stepping up. Alongside George Hayter and Reece Webb this produced a front row who were each several inches shorter than their sizeable opposite numbers. Given excellent support from the back 5, from being a source of worry the scrum instead became a real strength. Always securing their own ball they dominated the home scrum and collected several turnovers and penalties.
However at the end of the first quarter Beccs battled their way into the visitors’ 22 and then worked their way over from short range in the left hand corner.
Jay Massey-Taylor now made a scything diagonal run towards the top left hand corner past multiple defenders, carried on well by others. A resulting penalty was opted as a scrum leading to more pressure into the right hand corner. Initially this was knocked back by another holding on penalty but Heathfield came again into that corner with Martin nearly adding to his excellent day by going close. However a home prop was now binned and after concerted pressure Jack Pincus muscled his way over.
Beccs charged back and exploited an attacking lineout in the visitors 22, moving the ball into midfield for a simple try under the posts, providing their only successful conversion on the day.
The half time score of 12-12 suggested the outcome was unclear. Heathfield had more of the slope to come in their favour but Beccs were showing resilience and will have been feeling positive after their impressive recent win over Sevenoaks who have been dominating other sides this season.
Early in the second half Aiden Plumley, marking his welcome return from injury, joined a handling move in midfield and made a stomping run only for a fumble ten yards out. However scrum pressure produced turnover ball and soon Pincus was on the end of some good hands for his second on the day.
Almost immediately Ben Irwin delivered a delightful 50/22 and soon Will Chambers squeezed into the corner where he was adjudged to have touched down before being bundled into touch. Irwin had a typically busy productive day at the heart of much of Heathfield’s best play.
Then another fine Simpson run along the left wing was finished by, inevitably, Pincus for his third on what may have thus become an expensive day for him.
At 12-27 with nearly half an hour left Heathfield looked to be dominant and pulling clear. That this did not happen was at least partly down to the Beccs dogged ability to work their way back into the game, helped by some Heathfield penalties.
They now scored two similar tries as they muscled their way over from a few yards out on each occasion. Heathfield were handicapped by replacement Tom Cornwall being binned for offside after his side had just been warned for repeated similar offences.
With the lead down to 5 (22-27) and ten minutes remaining there was some concern amidst the (excellent) travelling support that a winning opportunity might be slipping away. But good lineout possession was moved into midfield for Lucas Cuming to make a decisive break and Hellewell to finish in the left hand corner, restoring the 10 point lead.
Beccs had the last word with an attack into the left hand corner where they were adjudged, amidst some confusion, to have scored and thus collected a try bonus point and a deserved losing bonus point.
Head Coach Sam Goatcher was generally pleased with the overall performance. The back five of the scrum caught my eye in particular as they all carried and combined well in heavy traffic, along with their strong scrummaging performance. The highly skilled video analysts, doubtless working away even as I type, will produce their own opinions but I would note that Beccs collected three of their five tries from very short range while almost all of Heathfield’s came from good handling across the park.
In recent years this team has struggled to win away from home so this was an important result in South London where points are not easily earned.
The team will also been heartened by the news of the Rangers 97-0 demolition of Newick, reflecting the developing strength in that team which can provide the very necessary depth of players to sustain the first team.
Next week Heathfield entertain Sevenoaks II who are level with them in the league table (6 Dec 14.00).