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Sat 18 Jan 2020 · London 3 South East
Old Williamsonians
1st XV
12
22
Away bonus point win secured in spite of strong home scrummage
Philip Bell19 Jan 2020 - 09:13
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Two tries in last few minutes decide a close game
Old Williamsonians 12 Heathfield 22
Heathfield eventually defeated a strong Old Williamsonian side who were in the lead with fifteen minutes remaining and will be justifiably disappointed not to take even a losing bonus point from the game.
The pitch was remarkably firm given the volume of rain in the last week and this allowed for a more open game than is often seen in mid-January. The wind was mainly across the pitch but the lowering sun on a cloudless day was an increasing factor – Heathfield played up the slope and into the sun in the first half.
The opening period belonged to the home side as they pressured into the visitors’ half and were playing with good organisation and purpose based on their strong pack. They had a clear edge in the early scrummages and this duly provided the secure platform for a set move in midfield for a simple try under the posts with barely five minutes on the clock. Their coaches will have been justifiably pleased as hard work on the training paddock paid off.
Heathfield naturally started to work their way back into the game mainly through good handling with Toby Simpson and Fergus Keegan being especially noted at this stage. (In the last couple of reports Fergus has been misnamed as Fergus Sweeney for reasons of incompetence and senility on my part – apologies to him – and to Mr Sweeney whoever he is.)
Keegan was a key part of a handling move through several phases which led to Heathfield’s opening score as repeated pressure into the right hand corner eventually saw the visitors’ skipper Gus Taylor run a good line for him to claim an important score although the conversion was missed.
This was now a good contest with play in all parts of the pitch. Old Willies were exerting pressure on the visitors especially in the scrum and on the half hour a flanker charged down a clearance kick in the visitors’ 22, reclaimed the ball and a couple of phases later they had another try. However Henry Ross now earned a two point bonus for his side by charging down the conversion and for a long time in the game thereafter this looked to have been a crucial moment.
Shortly before half time a home second row was binned for use of the elbow towards an opponent’s throat. However Heathfield were unable to exploit the extra man.
While the home side was having a good day in the scrum their lineout was misfiring in the first half as Ross was causing them problems at the front. The Heathfield lineout mostly worked although they were penalised several time for numbers – often to their puzzlement.
Having the elements in their favour in the second half Heathfield will have been optimistic of securing a result but in the event it was not that simple owing to the growing confidence in the home side. They may be bottom of the league table but were showing impressive commitment and organisation which was frustrating the visitors.
Heathfield started the second half brightly with Munch May stealing a ball from the base of an opposition scrum although the resulting chance was foiled. Then Toby Simpson ran back a penalty and was just denied by a fine cover tackle in the right hand corner. The touch judge and referee were unsighted so although Simpson felt that he had scored the right decision in a close game was made and the home side were able to clear their lines.
However Heathfield continued to press forward with Tom Cornwall especially running good lines. Then approaching the final quarter an attacking lineout in the left hand corner saw Fraser Goatcher take hold of a loose ball and barge his way over from relatively short range (12-10).
Heathfield made better use of the boot in the second half than the home side had done in the first period as several times home defenders struggled to pick up kicks towards them thanks to the low sun. Jack Morgan, Luca Rosenburg and Lucas Cuming all made some telling kicks in this respect which kept the home side pinned back.
Indeed a chip through in the home 22 by Rosenburg resulted in a clumsy block by a home forward and a yellow card was the inevitable result. However again Heathfield were unable to exploit the extra man. They did have a penalty chance to take the lead but it slipped past the left hand post.
Home spirits were then raised Goatcher was now binned as a result of a succession of penalties when he was adjudged to have been holding on at the breakdown. This offence seems to have been a favourite of the referee, applied equally to both sides, and it can be argued that the players were slow to respond to his interpretation in this area.
Injuries to the home front row meant that scrums were uncontested for a while which will have worked to the visitors’ advantage, nullifying an area of home strength, although full scrummaging was resumed before the end of the game.
With less than 15 minutes remaining the visiting supporters were becoming concerned but several players now showed their mettle. Tom Tingley, who had a strong game throughout, linked well with Ross providing good go-forward and pressure into the right hand corner saw Taylor charge over for the decisive score, converted by Cuming (12-17).
The game became a little disrupted now by various injuries but in what proved to be the last play of the game an attack into the bottom left hand corner was carried on through several phases with May keeping the attack going down the blindside and Ross was finally able to gallop over for the concluding and bonus point score.
Other than those mentioned above Dan Jones was noted with some industrious and effective work while Dan Bird had a good tussle in the tight but still made a number of useful carries. However the referee afterwards commented that Taylor had been the standout player for Heathfield with his all-round work and impact.
Heathfield were afterwards were very complimentary towards Old Willies whose performance on the day belied their lowly league position. In particular the front row was described as the best Heathfield have encountered this season.
Nonetheless Heathfield will be pleased to have finally secured the bonus point away win which lifts them further clear of the relegation zone. However next week Heathfield have another long trip into Kent when they visit promotion candidates Folkestone. In the earlier game between these sides this season Heathfield felt that they lost mainly because of their own mistakes so will be looking to put the record straight. We are still in January so kickoff is 2.00.
Heathfield eventually defeated a strong Old Williamsonian side who were in the lead with fifteen minutes remaining and will be justifiably disappointed not to take even a losing bonus point from the game.
The pitch was remarkably firm given the volume of rain in the last week and this allowed for a more open game than is often seen in mid-January. The wind was mainly across the pitch but the lowering sun on a cloudless day was an increasing factor – Heathfield played up the slope and into the sun in the first half.
The opening period belonged to the home side as they pressured into the visitors’ half and were playing with good organisation and purpose based on their strong pack. They had a clear edge in the early scrummages and this duly provided the secure platform for a set move in midfield for a simple try under the posts with barely five minutes on the clock. Their coaches will have been justifiably pleased as hard work on the training paddock paid off.
Heathfield naturally started to work their way back into the game mainly through good handling with Toby Simpson and Fergus Keegan being especially noted at this stage. (In the last couple of reports Fergus has been misnamed as Fergus Sweeney for reasons of incompetence and senility on my part – apologies to him – and to Mr Sweeney whoever he is.)
Keegan was a key part of a handling move through several phases which led to Heathfield’s opening score as repeated pressure into the right hand corner eventually saw the visitors’ skipper Gus Taylor run a good line for him to claim an important score although the conversion was missed.
This was now a good contest with play in all parts of the pitch. Old Willies were exerting pressure on the visitors especially in the scrum and on the half hour a flanker charged down a clearance kick in the visitors’ 22, reclaimed the ball and a couple of phases later they had another try. However Henry Ross now earned a two point bonus for his side by charging down the conversion and for a long time in the game thereafter this looked to have been a crucial moment.
Shortly before half time a home second row was binned for use of the elbow towards an opponent’s throat. However Heathfield were unable to exploit the extra man.
While the home side was having a good day in the scrum their lineout was misfiring in the first half as Ross was causing them problems at the front. The Heathfield lineout mostly worked although they were penalised several time for numbers – often to their puzzlement.
Having the elements in their favour in the second half Heathfield will have been optimistic of securing a result but in the event it was not that simple owing to the growing confidence in the home side. They may be bottom of the league table but were showing impressive commitment and organisation which was frustrating the visitors.
Heathfield started the second half brightly with Munch May stealing a ball from the base of an opposition scrum although the resulting chance was foiled. Then Toby Simpson ran back a penalty and was just denied by a fine cover tackle in the right hand corner. The touch judge and referee were unsighted so although Simpson felt that he had scored the right decision in a close game was made and the home side were able to clear their lines.
However Heathfield continued to press forward with Tom Cornwall especially running good lines. Then approaching the final quarter an attacking lineout in the left hand corner saw Fraser Goatcher take hold of a loose ball and barge his way over from relatively short range (12-10).
Heathfield made better use of the boot in the second half than the home side had done in the first period as several times home defenders struggled to pick up kicks towards them thanks to the low sun. Jack Morgan, Luca Rosenburg and Lucas Cuming all made some telling kicks in this respect which kept the home side pinned back.
Indeed a chip through in the home 22 by Rosenburg resulted in a clumsy block by a home forward and a yellow card was the inevitable result. However again Heathfield were unable to exploit the extra man. They did have a penalty chance to take the lead but it slipped past the left hand post.
Home spirits were then raised Goatcher was now binned as a result of a succession of penalties when he was adjudged to have been holding on at the breakdown. This offence seems to have been a favourite of the referee, applied equally to both sides, and it can be argued that the players were slow to respond to his interpretation in this area.
Injuries to the home front row meant that scrums were uncontested for a while which will have worked to the visitors’ advantage, nullifying an area of home strength, although full scrummaging was resumed before the end of the game.
With less than 15 minutes remaining the visiting supporters were becoming concerned but several players now showed their mettle. Tom Tingley, who had a strong game throughout, linked well with Ross providing good go-forward and pressure into the right hand corner saw Taylor charge over for the decisive score, converted by Cuming (12-17).
The game became a little disrupted now by various injuries but in what proved to be the last play of the game an attack into the bottom left hand corner was carried on through several phases with May keeping the attack going down the blindside and Ross was finally able to gallop over for the concluding and bonus point score.
Other than those mentioned above Dan Jones was noted with some industrious and effective work while Dan Bird had a good tussle in the tight but still made a number of useful carries. However the referee afterwards commented that Taylor had been the standout player for Heathfield with his all-round work and impact.
Heathfield were afterwards were very complimentary towards Old Willies whose performance on the day belied their lowly league position. In particular the front row was described as the best Heathfield have encountered this season.
Nonetheless Heathfield will be pleased to have finally secured the bonus point away win which lifts them further clear of the relegation zone. However next week Heathfield have another long trip into Kent when they visit promotion candidates Folkestone. In the earlier game between these sides this season Heathfield felt that they lost mainly because of their own mistakes so will be looking to put the record straight. We are still in January so kickoff is 2.00.
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