Pulborough 21 Heathfield 19
Pulborough just held on to defeat Heathfield in a game that the visitors could have, and indeed, should have won. Both sides scored three tries but Heathfield missed one conversion and that was the final difference.
In spite of the volume of rain in recent days the pitch was in excellent condition with a lush coverage of grass. Heathfield had first use of the significant breeze slanting down the very slight incline although this was less apparent on the clubhouse side of the pitch.
Puklborough scored a fine early try when they ran back a long kick, moving the ball down the left flank with good pace and handling for a score under the posts. However Heathfield immediately showed that they were up the contest with good pressure into the home 22 through their scrummage and useful carries by Nick Cook and a nice break by Toby Harrison. Rees Webb duly claimed a try in a heap of bodies in the left hand corner.
More visitors’ pressure was looking promising when good hands gave Dan Bird a sniff of a chance in the same left hand corner but he was just denied.
Pulborough however now doubled their score with another nice piece of handling and pace, again down their left wing (14-5).
Just after the twenty minute point Jack Morgan came off worst in an accidental clash with teammate Tom Tingley. Morgan had to retire with a painful ankle injury and may be out for a while. This allowed Harry Reilly to make his first appearance of the season.
Heathfield now had a period of sustained pressure hammering away in the home 22 with both Cook and Dan Jones being adjudged to have been held up – both were confident that they had scored. With hindsight this was the crucial period in a tight game when the home defence just did enough.
Then a tap penalty in front of the home posts was run into the left hand corner but the final pass went astray.
Some justice was done just after the half hour when after several phases Fraser Goatcher, who had several useful carries otherwise, worked his way over from short range. Shortly before half time Heathfield collected another try after several phases when Reilly ran a good line to catch the defence off balance and Lucas Cuming duly added the extras.
The penalty count in the first half was 9-3 against the home side although it has to be said that both sides were struggling to understand the interpretation being applied at the breakdown in particular.
Heathfield had a definite edge at the scrummage with at least two balls against the head. The home side also had a difficult day in the lineout which would have been worse but, put charitably, for the wind causing problems for the Heathfield throwing. It was also noticeable that several times in the second half Pulborough opted for a scrum rather than the lineout as they recognised they were under pressure there.
Pulborough opened the second half with a period of pressure on the Heathfield line but the defence was just adequate. Gradually a pattern emerged in this half as Heathfield worked their way upfield only for some sensible kicking by the home side to pin Heathfield back again. Heathfield had not done this in the first half because Pulborough had rarely been able to escape from their own half.
The decisive moment in the game arrived with twenty minutes to go when the home left wing appeared at inside centre on a good line and then had the pace to outstrip the cover for a fine solo score, with the conversion taking the lead (21-9).
The rest of the game was characterised by Heathfield efforts being hampered by an increasing penalty count against them, not always for reasons that were apparent to the players. Pulborough sensibly used up some time as the clock ticked down by taking unlikely long range kicks at goal.
However Heathfield also managed to hamper themselves with some basic errors including poor pass accuracy and missing a penalty kick into the corner which would have given a great attacking position.
Pulborough emerged as the winners because their backs took their chances well while Heathfield were either unlucky or made basic errors at key moments. The pack in particular is generally looking effective and will produce adequate possession against most teams. Overall Heathfield’s team is much more settled than in recent years and hopefully this will start to produce results in what looks to be a competitive league with plenty of close games elsewhere.
Next Saturday old rivals Park House come visiting Cross-In-Hand (26 Oct 3.00).