Uckfield 17 Heathfield 10
Uckfield just edged this SE3 league game against old rival Heathfield as they played the conditions and the referee better than a young and naïve visiting side.
Uckfield had first use of the strong albeit fluctuating breeze along with the low sun over their shoulders which made catching high balls tricky for the opposition.
Heathfield were soon on the scoreboard when Nick Cook made a storming run down the left flank and impressively prop Fraser Goatcher was on hand to plunge over from short range. (0-5)
Especially in the first half the game was more open than might have been expected on such a soft surface but this season Heathfield have always tried to play a wide game. Tom Tingley and Toby Simpson both made useful runs but the home defence just proved adequate. However the home side were proving very competitive at the breakdown and one visiting prop will not wish to be reminded of having the ball burgled off him in a good attacking position.
In the scrummage Heathfield looked to have a very slight edge early on while the home lineout had a day to forget with Henry Ross ruining their front ball and longer stuff often going astray. Heathfield were once penalised for not straight at the scrummage – technically correct under the laws but this was an isolated decision lacking consistency.
Nonetheless Uckfield were scrapping better in the close exchanges and just on the half hour they opened their account from short range, albeit unconverted (5-5)
Almost immediately they collected the best try of the day when they moved the ball wide left and a well-judged chip through was followed up with distinct pace by their left winger to claim a fine individual try, again unconverted.
The game was probably decided in the last few minutes of the half as first the Heathfield skipper, Gus Taylor, was binned for a hand on the head of an opponent. The decision begs a number of questions. Soon afterwards a strong attacking scrum on the visitors’ five metre line allowed the Uckfield scrum half to dive through for a critical score which was converted.
The half time score line of 17-5 was probably a fair reflection of the run of play. The outcome of the game depended on whether Heathfield could make better use of the conditions in their favour in the second half. Essentially the answer was no.
Heathfield did start brightly with Cook again making many yards with his strong running. However on this and several other occasions the visitors tried for the magic pass when safer options were available and Uckfield gratefully ran back to relieve the pressure.
Injuries to Lucas Cuming and Goatcher disrupted the visitors as some frustration crept into the game. This was at least partly due to poor enforcement of the offside line where the older Uckfield heads took full advantage while the young Heathfield team were too tentative.
This resulted in Harry Reilly at fly half often receiving difficult ball along with tacklers and on a cold muddy day when things are not going your way this can lead to irritation.
The frustration eventually boiled over with Tom Cornwall and the home number eight being binned for some scrapping although there were plenty of other candidates.
Heathfield were starting to achieve some possession and position and Dan Jones probably did score in a heap of bodies although the referee was on the other side of the breakdown so could not have seen it.
As the minutes ticked down Heathfield kept pressing into the right hand corner and from a lineout Cook eventually worked his way over.
Soon back in the same area and pressing for a share of the points in the last play of the game, Heathfield gained a penalty but the hastily taken penalty was kicked dead thus losing the opportunity for a lineout where Heathfield had been dominant all day.
Given the strong Heathfield set piece, Uckfield have to be given credit for their determined efforts in the loose where they probably just wanted it more than the visitors. It is also worth noting that this was the second week in a row that Heathfield handicapped themselves with two yellow cards.
At the half way point in the league program Heathfield will look at Uckfield as one of four teams to whom they lost by a single score in away games – a reversal of most or all of those results will secure league safety whatever else happens.
Heathfield resume after the Xmas break with a visit to Hastings on 4th January for a Bob Rogers Cup game. League action restarts the following week when Gillingham Anchorians come calling at Cross In Hand.