Heathfield eventually cruised to a ten try win over Park House (PH) although this outcome seemed unlikely early on.
In spite of volatile and unpleasant weather in recent days, the pitch outside the clubhouse had unexpectedly dried out and provided a mostly firm if slippery surface. It certainly didn’t seem to hinder the home back division which increasingly enjoyed the game.
Heathfield had first use of the slight slope and after a routine kicking exchange they established position in the visitors’ 22. Good lineout ball was worked wide and eventually the try line was crossed but the ball was held up. The drop out was duly run back through several hands before skipper Jo Lewis boshed through some final tackles to open the scoring. Harry Westgate converted as he did for seven of the ten tries.
The next twenty minutes illustrate why this is such a competitive league as PH increasingly came into the game with some decent rugby, aided by a couple of home penalties. Their pack was making good ground ball in hand, led by prop Ziggy Botchey who often needed several tacklers to contain him. They went close in the left hand corner but the home defence did enough. At this stage few would have predicted the final score line.
Having weathered the storm, Heathfield charged back down the other end. On the half hour good lineout ball was carried on dynamically by George Hayter who found Jay Massey-Taylor to finish well.
This was followed by a confused period of play which almost reached the visitors’ try line before being run back by PH, and then in turn Heathfield regathered the ball for Lewis to run it back into the visitors’ 22. He was stopped just short and the PH scrum half was then binned for his activities in that play.
Rather than taking the easy three points, the ball was tapped and again the try line was crossed but again it was held up. The drop out was run back into the bottom corner where some defenders may have stopped for what they thought was a knock on but the referee said had come off a knee and Tom Reilly darted in for the try.
In the last play of the half Heathfield again counter-attacked with another impactful run by Hayter and this time Sam Walley was the beneficiary for the bonus point try.
A half time score of 26-0 looked promising but PH had the slope to come and they had shown plenty of capability in the first half so there so there was no complacency. The set piece and penalty count had been almost even.
However almost immediately good hands by Reilly and Zac Coxon ran back a PH kick out of defence and Harry Slinnhawkins was on hand to finish in the left hand corner.
The PH scrum half now returned from the bin but his side had leaked three tries in that period. PH are having a difficult season and losing can become a difficult habit to escape.
They now leaked four tries in the next fifteen minutes. First Tom Cornwall and Slinnhawkins combined well to put Ben Irwin in for a try. Then good hands, again involving a pacy run by Coxon, produced a score for Jack Pincus. Walley ended a messy period of play with his second on the day before Lucas Cuming stepped his way through retreating defenders for his deserved try.
With a quarter of the game left the 57-0 score line could have become embarrassing for PH but to their credit there was no further scoring until the very end. They retained possession and pressed the home defence but were generally well contained. The result was clear, it was a chilly day and everyone was waiting for the final whistle.
Eventually Heathfield ran back a PH kick out of defence and Cuming was able to double his tally on the day. Westgate’s 7th conversion was followed by the final whistle.
Although not mentioned above Charlie Hannan again showed pace and skill as part of a back division which thrives on a good surface. However today’s outcome was based on a sterling pack performance. Mention has to be made of Craig Martin’s critical contribution on the loosehead providing the set piece stability that enables so much else.
Westgate was afterwards much complimented for his improving tactical management of the game along with his familiar kicking from the base. Walley and Lewis also had fine games while Hayter had probably one of his best games for the club with strong work in both loose and tight.
The home coaches will be pleased with the low penalty count today – eight in total. This will probably be more tested next week when Heathfield visit Ashford who today eye-catchingly lost 46-45 away at Beccs – was tackling optional? (17 Jan 2.00)