Heathfield eventually won a remarkably entertaining and fluctuating game which will have a big influence in deciding the final positions at the top of Counties 1 Kent behind the runaway leaders Old Elthamians. Both sides scored five tries so kicks decided the outcome.
Following their surprising defeat at Ashford last week Sevenoaks were boosted by a couple of regular first team players who were presumably returning from injury.
Conditions were fine on a mostly sunny albeit breezy day with a dry firm pitch which enabled the open game that followed.
After the opening exchanges Heathfield opened the scoring with a good backs try in left hand corner by Toby Simpson who then also slotted the conversion. Sevenoaks soon replied through their forwards for an unconverted try.
The visitors’ scrum was starting to gain an edge in that phase and a penalty then allowed Simpson to extend the lead. Sadly Charlie Hannan pulled up injured and was replaced by Liam Dunkley making a welcome and useful return from injury.
Sevenoaks now had an extended period of pressure but were mostly repelled through good defensive work or their own errors. The penalty count against them was starting to rise. Entering the second quarter their pressure finally paid off with a backs try on the left hand side, albeit unconverted.
Another scrum penalty kept the pressure on the home side soon resulting in another home penalty. The ref now warned Sevenoaks of an impending card and it was a sign of confidence that the scrum option was taken rather than three points. This paid off as the ball was carried into the right hand corner and Jay Massey-Taylor dived through a tiny gap by the corner flag.
Massey-Taylor then had a big part in a good handling move from deep which ended with another Sevenoaks penalty and a resulting yellow card. The penalty count was 9-4 at this point. Heathfield now hammered away in the home 22. Eventually a lineout in the left hand corner was secured and Sam Walley charged over for the third try, duly converted.
Although Heathfield now had a ten point lead (12-22) the game was very much in the balance. While Heathfield had a significant edge in the scrum lineouts were generally even.
Heathfield were unable to exploit the extra man at the start of the second half but their scrum was helping to keep the home side on the back foot. Persistent position and pressure in the home 22 was finally ended by Chris Baker-Butler scrambling over the line in a heap of bodies for the bonus point try.
A 17 point lead may have looked decisive but Sevenoaks were far from beaten and had the better of the next few minutes. They scored a decent try from a lineout. Heathfield started to attract penalties and after a ref’s warning another penalty at the break down resulted in a team yellow for Olly Smith. Sevenoaks then collected their bonus point try with good handling across the pitch to reduce the lead to 5 (24-29).
This was the crunch moment in the game as the next score looked to be crucial. The tension was getting to people and when Heathfield were awarded a penalty some incautious words resulted in Sevenoaks being marched back and giving Simpson the opportunity to knock over another three points.
The result was still unclear but a lot of the game was in the home half. With just over ten minutes remaining another dominant scrum allowed Walley to charge over for his second try on the day and a decisive 15 point lead.
Sevenoaks were still resisting well and an attack into the visitors’ 22 ended with a penalty against Heathfield and a team yellow for George Hayter. Good backs handling gave Sevenoaks a consolation try in the left hand corner but time was running out for them and the final whistle eventually went.
Simpson converted four out of the five tries as well as collecting two penalties while the home kicker had a slightly less successful day and that made a big difference. While the home side did collect a try bonus point, it could yet be critical in the final league positions that they were denied a losing bonus point.
Head Coach Sam Goatcher was naturally delighted with both the team performance and the result. Ben Irwin controlled the game well from fly half and Jayden Rainbow was also noted on his return to the 1st team after some years away. However the forwards in general and the scrummaging unit in particular take great credit for their efforts against some seasoned opposition which laid the foundation for the result.
After a week’s rest Heathfield visit Cranbrook who had a morale boosting win away at Beccehamians and they are fighting for every point to avoid relegation so this will another good test. (11 Apr 3.00)