Heathfield 21 Gillingham Anchorians 3
Heathfield secured an unspectacular but efficient win over Gillingham who were in comfortable mid-table before the game. After it Heathfield are immediately below them and will be looking to move further up in the next few weeks.
The pitch was soft, at best, and in places heavy which did not encourage a fast open game. Oddly on the top side of the pitch there was a steady breeze down the slope but the lower side in the lee of the tree line was almost calm.
Heathfield played up the slight slope initially and after some frantic early exchanges with one extended period of play all over the pitch including some good advantage the game settled down with Heathfield mostly on the front foot. An attacking lineout was well taken forward with good hands by several including Fraser Goatcher and Sam Crichton before the move was improperly stopped a few yards out from the visitors’ try line in front of the posts. Harry Reilly duly collected the points on offer but given the situation a yellow must (should?) have been in the referee’s mind.
Gillingham were also making some decent ground mainly through their big runners with their skipper Mark Barfoot, Ryan Lehane and hooker Will Rush being especially noticed. However throughout the game the home defence generally proved adequate and the visitors rarely broke through. The Heathfield coaches were particularly pleased with the whole defensive performance on the day.
Gillingham pressure did produce results at the start of the second quarter with a penalty but otherwise they generally did not make use of the slope & wind in their favour as the home side absorbed their efforts.
On the half hour good defensive work produced an important turnover and Heathfield surged back up the pitch with Goatcher again making a big contribution before good hands moved the ball wide left where Dan Jones still had some work to do before touching down.
Soon afterwards a home penalty provided good field position back in the left hand corner and after a messy lineout Munch May burrowed his way over to extend the home lead.
More Gillingham pressure was now relieved by Sam Shillabeer making a big run out of defence. However any home complacency was soon dashed as Shillabeer was binned for a deliberate knock on although the visitors were unable to benefit from the extra man.
The half ended with more pressure from the visitors which was relieved by some big work at the breakdown by Heathfield skipper (and reportedly birthday boy) Gus Taylor in securing an important turnover.
The half time score of 13-3 was pleasing given that the visitors had the elements in their favour in the first half. The scrummage was a good contest all day with neither side having an edge. By contrast the lineout was generally unsatisfactory with wayward throwing (mostly unpunished) and rare clean ball for either side.
Heathfield now extended their lead with an early penalty. Indeed the whistle was the most prominent feature of this half with a count of 10-8 penalties which would be poor in a whole game, not just a half. Taylor received at least two final warnings as captain but somehow no further cards were flourished.
For the last half hour almost all of the play was in the visitors’ half but their stout defence proved mostly adequate. Eoin Larmer made one huge run down the right flank but his final pass went astray just yards out. Heathfield had one penalty chance but the ball came back off the upright and Gillingham were able to scramble clear.
With the result looking clear Heathfield were generally in control and home supporters were starting to think of a try bonus point but the claggy pitch was dragging everyone down. More home pressure into the bottom corner was contained and then turned over as a little frustration crept in.
However in the last play of the game Heathfield kept the ball alive through several phases with Tom Tingley making a big run before the ball was moved wide for Jones to collect his second try on the day.
The home coaches were especially pleased with all of the front five. Hooker Dan Bird and prop Reece Webb made some big tackles along with more than holding their own in the tight while Goatcher also made some big carries. Second rows Fergus Sweeney and Crichton both made good yards ball in hand and the front row reports that they are becoming a real force in the scrummage. Wider out Jeyden Rainbow saw little ball in attack but made several key and precise tackles to snuff out the rare visitors’ backs threats. Reilly was afterwards praised for his control of the game although he will rue the missed conversions.
Given the soft surface this was an efficient rather than spectacular performance but it lifts Heathfield out of the relegation zone and suggests that the rest of the season will be enjoyably competitive
Next week Heathfield visit Old Williamsonians who may be having a difficult season at the bottom of the league table but Heathfield still want league points and will not be giving anything away.