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Sat 26 Jan 2019 · London 2 South East
1st XVBeckenham
Tries: T TingleyPenalties: L Cuming
8
52
Well beaten by efficient league leaders Beckenham
Philip Bell27 Jan 2019 - 19:19
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Some positive signs but more injuries
Heathfield 8 Beckenham 52
When the league leaders play a side firmly in the relegation zone there is little surprise in an eight tries to one win for the favourites. Beckenham duly did what was needed to put their season back on track after a loss in their previous league game and they looked an efficient well-organised side who will be up to the challenges of the league above.
While the score was almost identical to the earlier game between these two sides, Heathfield nonetheless have genuine grounds for taking plenty of positives from today’s game. For much of this season the home side has been handicapped by a lack of bulk and power in the front row. Today they were often still under pressure but secured much more of their own ball in that phase and the whole team performance was boosted as a result. Dan Bird has been an important part of the improvement in that area in recent weeks and he was again having a good game when he had to retire with a knock to the head after repeatedly tackling one of the larger visiting forwards. The home scrummage then benefitted from the return to action of Fraser Goatcher after a long term injury and generally stabilised that phase. But all the other members of the front row did well against the sizeable visiting unit.
Heathfield took an early lead through a Lucas Cuming penalty and at this stage it would have been difficult to say which was the higher ranked team as the game flowed all over the pitch. However at the end of the first quarter Beckenham gradually built pressure into the home half and then a sustained attack under the posts was completed by good movement of the ball wide for a finish in the top corner (3-5).
Max Redman did well in retrieving a ball that had been chipped behind him and then beat several people running it back, in a hint of things to come. Beckenham were trying to get their rolling maul established but mostly Heathfield managed to contain this and often disrupt it with Oli Robertshaw being especially noticed in this respect.
Shortly before half time Beckenham extended their lead with an efficient piece of work from a lineout with the ball moved wide for a clinical finish.
Remarkably the visitors retired to their changing room at half time – since this was one of the warmer days in the last few weeks there were some sardonic comments about Londoners not being used to proper country weather. Perhaps their extended coach journey including an unscripted visit to a farm had unsettled them – apparently Google Maps was to blame.
The home lineout had a decent day generally, also helped by Henry Ross stealing a couple of balls at the front. Skipper Gus Taylor was as usual leading by example with effective and physical defensive efforts.
The second half started badly for the home side with an unnecessary penalty for offside that gave the visitors good field position and they duly rumbled over. The visitors’ bonus point try soon followed and they continued to score frequently for the rest of the game with a good all round performance. In particular they kicked effectively in to the bottom corner to keep the home side pinned back.
Cuming needed to make one impressive tackle to bring down the visitors’ impact prop on a rampaging run although he was unable to prevent the follow up from collecting another try. Home spirits were then lifted by the try of the day as Redman collected the ball on his own 22 and showed pace and skill to evade tacklers well into the visitors’ half before finding Tom Tingley in support who then had the pace to collect yet another try to add to his recent purple patch of scoring.
However this was small solace as Beckenham continued to use their forward power and strong running in the backs to collect two more tries.
Afterwards Beckenham were particularly pleased with the performance of their 17 year old second row Kenny Henry and he nearly did some other damage to the clubhouse ceiling when standing on a chair in the after-match proceedings.
In spite of the scoreline Heathfield Head Coach Dave Cook was full of praise for the attitude and commitment of his team. Sadly some more injuries were collected today which will put more strain on limited resources.
For those who follow such matters it should be made clear that Tom Pritchard did not score a try today.
Heathfield next visit Hastings in a Sussex Bob Rogers Cup semi-final (2 Feb 2.00) before returning to league action with two successive away games against Horsham and Charlton Park who currently lie 2nd and 3rd in the league table – it ain’t easy!
When the league leaders play a side firmly in the relegation zone there is little surprise in an eight tries to one win for the favourites. Beckenham duly did what was needed to put their season back on track after a loss in their previous league game and they looked an efficient well-organised side who will be up to the challenges of the league above.
While the score was almost identical to the earlier game between these two sides, Heathfield nonetheless have genuine grounds for taking plenty of positives from today’s game. For much of this season the home side has been handicapped by a lack of bulk and power in the front row. Today they were often still under pressure but secured much more of their own ball in that phase and the whole team performance was boosted as a result. Dan Bird has been an important part of the improvement in that area in recent weeks and he was again having a good game when he had to retire with a knock to the head after repeatedly tackling one of the larger visiting forwards. The home scrummage then benefitted from the return to action of Fraser Goatcher after a long term injury and generally stabilised that phase. But all the other members of the front row did well against the sizeable visiting unit.
Heathfield took an early lead through a Lucas Cuming penalty and at this stage it would have been difficult to say which was the higher ranked team as the game flowed all over the pitch. However at the end of the first quarter Beckenham gradually built pressure into the home half and then a sustained attack under the posts was completed by good movement of the ball wide for a finish in the top corner (3-5).
Max Redman did well in retrieving a ball that had been chipped behind him and then beat several people running it back, in a hint of things to come. Beckenham were trying to get their rolling maul established but mostly Heathfield managed to contain this and often disrupt it with Oli Robertshaw being especially noticed in this respect.
Shortly before half time Beckenham extended their lead with an efficient piece of work from a lineout with the ball moved wide for a clinical finish.
Remarkably the visitors retired to their changing room at half time – since this was one of the warmer days in the last few weeks there were some sardonic comments about Londoners not being used to proper country weather. Perhaps their extended coach journey including an unscripted visit to a farm had unsettled them – apparently Google Maps was to blame.
The home lineout had a decent day generally, also helped by Henry Ross stealing a couple of balls at the front. Skipper Gus Taylor was as usual leading by example with effective and physical defensive efforts.
The second half started badly for the home side with an unnecessary penalty for offside that gave the visitors good field position and they duly rumbled over. The visitors’ bonus point try soon followed and they continued to score frequently for the rest of the game with a good all round performance. In particular they kicked effectively in to the bottom corner to keep the home side pinned back.
Cuming needed to make one impressive tackle to bring down the visitors’ impact prop on a rampaging run although he was unable to prevent the follow up from collecting another try. Home spirits were then lifted by the try of the day as Redman collected the ball on his own 22 and showed pace and skill to evade tacklers well into the visitors’ half before finding Tom Tingley in support who then had the pace to collect yet another try to add to his recent purple patch of scoring.
However this was small solace as Beckenham continued to use their forward power and strong running in the backs to collect two more tries.
Afterwards Beckenham were particularly pleased with the performance of their 17 year old second row Kenny Henry and he nearly did some other damage to the clubhouse ceiling when standing on a chair in the after-match proceedings.
In spite of the scoreline Heathfield Head Coach Dave Cook was full of praise for the attitude and commitment of his team. Sadly some more injuries were collected today which will put more strain on limited resources.
For those who follow such matters it should be made clear that Tom Pritchard did not score a try today.
Heathfield next visit Hastings in a Sussex Bob Rogers Cup semi-final (2 Feb 2.00) before returning to league action with two successive away games against Horsham and Charlton Park who currently lie 2nd and 3rd in the league table – it ain’t easy!
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