Heathfield 47 Vigo 13
Heathfield eventually collected a seven tries to two win over Vigo in their last home game of the season. After a quiet first half the home side had too much energy and intensity for the visitors who fought gamely but could not contain some excellent all round rugby.
The game was preceded by a minute’s silence for Dinky, an older social member who had died in a tragic accident outside the club earlier in the week.
After the flat performance by the team in the game last week it was good to see that the squad seemed to be well up for today’s contest. Conditions were excellent with a firm dry pitch on a sunny day and unusually a fluky breeze diagonally up the slope.
Heathfield played up the slope initially and in the first few minutes were pinned back by three penalties although Vigo were unable to take advantage. Gradually Heathfield worked their way back up the pitch and a penalty resulted in an attacking lineout in the left hand corner. The ball was simply secured and although the initial drive was held, after a couple of phases Dylan Eames burrowed over for the opening score.
Vigo replied almost immediately when they just secured the ball from a scrum under pressure and worked it down the blindside for their left wing Liam Wiltshire to plunge over in the corner. Notably Wiltshire had played in the second row in several previous games so is clearly a versatile player. The visitors’ scrum was under pressure all game and their number 8 Ben Moorhouse did remarkably well to salvage as much good possession as he did in difficult circumstances and he was one of their chief ball carriers.
Vigo continued to have a decent share of the game at this stage with some pressure into the home 22 which just after the half hour resulted in a yellow card for skipper Gus Taylor – not a surprise given the way the penalty count was building against Heathfield although a deliberate knock on was the reason in this instance.
However the half ended with a try for the home side as another attacking lineout in the left hand corner was driven forward and then Reece Webb dived through a heap of bodies for the score, impressively converted by Toby Simpson (12-8).
At half time Vigo were well in the game. Although their scrum was under severe pressure they were otherwise competitive. The high penalty count against Heathfield prompted Coach Dave Cook to have an extended conversation with the ref at half time. It has to be said that in the first half Vigo got the benefit of some close calls but that this seemed to be reversed for the rest of the game.
Whatever Cook said to the team at half time they went on to produce one of the best halves of rugby this team has played all season. For the rest of the match they played at a tempo and with an intensity that would have worried any team in this league.
They were soon on the front foot with Sam Crichton having another storming game with useful carries in heavy traffic and he was involved in a move which led to Sam Williams touching down in the left hand corner after just two minutes. Crichton was matched by Eames, Webb and Ed Koops in carries which were stretching the visitors’ defence. A couple of minutes later more pressure ended with a simple penalty chance for Simpson to stretch the lead to 20-8.
In due course the Vigo full back was binned as the penalty count mounted against his side. Heathfield duly took advantage as pressure down the left hand side was followed by good hands across the pitch involving Dan Bird, Liam Dunkley and Koops before Crichton muscled his way over for the bonus point try.
With 25 minutes remaining replacements Tom Pritchard, Jem Macvicker and Archie Adams joined the fray and if anything they added to the tempo of play.
Entering the last quarter Williams was the beneficiary of more good handling across the pitch especially by Jack Brown and he collected his second try. However Brown then had to retire with a hamstring twinge and Adams moved to scrum half.
Most of the game was now in the visitors’ half. Heathfield chose to try to take the points from two kickable penalties, with one success. Some spectators were disappointed at the decisions when more tries seemed possible.
Lucas Cuming now had one long run from deep beating multiple defenders but the cover defence just stopped him: Cuming generally provided a sharper attacking edge to the back division. He was ably assisted by Jeyden Rainbow at outside centre who provided dogged defence and some hard running lines.
With just under ten minutes remaining Vigo showed they were far from daunted and worked their way into the top left hand corner. They thought they had scored in that corner but were called back for a final forward pass – although they were awarded the resulting scrum which confused many. However justice was done as they again hammered away in the corner and eventually secured a deserved try.
That was the end of the good news for Vigo as Heathfield finished strongly. First Williams collected his third try on the day after some good handling by Fraser Goatcher and Taylor. Then in the last play of the game Simpson had too much pace and skill for the tiring defence.
Next week Heathfield visit Crawley in the last league game of the season (2 Apr 3.00). Barring unusual results elsewhere Heathfield will finish in fourth place just behind Aylesford and Cranbrook and well behind league winners Bromley.