Heathfield 30 Southwark Lancers 5
The good pics are by Roger Cuming, the blurry ones by me.
Heathfield eventually secured a workmanlike bonus point victory over a tenacious Southwark Lancers side who could not win enough possession to exploit their useful back division. This was their first visit to Cross In Hand, they only had one replacement and the team bus only arrived 45 minutes before kick off so their preparations were not ideal.
Conditions were good with a steady breeze down the slight slope on a pitch which had been freshened up by overnight rain and was a little tacky.
Heathfield started at a good pace and nearly snatched an early try when Munch May intercepted in the visitors 22 but Fraser Goatcher was adjudged to have been held up over the line. Most play was rather frantic and the home coaches commented afterwards that the team had been rushing things too much, trying for the magic pass when it would have been preferable to have built a good platform first before opening up.
After about fifteen minutes Sam Goatcher had to retire temporarily with a damaged shoulder so Toby Simpson come on at full back with Sean Crozier moving up to fly half and Bryn Jones to inside centre. At the same time the Southwark hooker had to be replaced with a dislocated finger. Since they had arrived without a recognised front row replacement one of their flankers bravely stepped up to hook and their coach afterwards picked him out as their best player on the day.
Heathfield were having much of the game albeit without dominating as Southwark were scrapping well and their backs always looked dangerous with the limited possession that they did have. Scoring was finally opened after 25 minutes when good lineout ball was moved into midfield and Bryn Jones timed a sweet pass for Jeyden Rainbow to touch down under the posts, duly converted by Crozier.
Jones had to retire shortly afterwards and S Goatcher returned to the fray. The lead was then extended with a home penalty. However the visitors were far from beaten and one dangerous counter attack was only just snuffed out by a magnificent try-saving tackle back by Archie Adams near the top corner. Adams had a busy and effective day, especially in defence.
Heathfield had one last chance in the half when they secured a good attacking position in the left hand corner but the lineout went wrong.
The home coaches were irritated that little use had been made of the breeze in the first half and the 10-0 score was not decisive against a resilient Southwark side. Their outside centre made a number of clean breaks throughout the game and their left wing also looked dangerous with limited opportunity.
Heathfield were dominating the scrummage and the Southwark no 8 did a remarkable job in securing useful possession from the base of a scrum often in high reverse. Reece Webb replaced Sam Brown at half time and Webb made very effective contributions all over the field as well as continuing the scrum dominance.
Heathfield extended the lead early in the second half with another Crozier penalty for a high tackle which seemed to be a recurring issue for the visitors. Pressure was building on the visitors and an attacking scrum on their 5 metre line charged forward leading to a penalty try.
Rather than accepting defeat Southwark kept playing to their strengths and were rewarded with a good try in the left hand corner at the end of the third quarter although the conversion was missed. At 20-5 and the visitors tails up there was just a sniff of a possible comeback but most of the rest of the game was in the visitors’ half.
One good opportunity was squandered as clean Heathfield lineout ball was driven over the try line but the referee called them back for crossing. Nonetheless good scrum ball was then worked through several phases before being moved wide left and Jack Brown finished well in the corner.
Heathfield were now firmly in control with their big men Sam Crichton, Ed Koops and Dylan Eames making useful carries. Dan Bird will have had hopes of a try to crown his good performance but he was just hauled down a few yards out. Soon afterwards skipper Gus Taylor capped his good day’s work as he muscled over in the left hand corner. He had cleaned up several errant Southwark lineouts and made frequent good yards ball in hand.
Southwark continued to pose a threat from long range and it took another good Adams tackle to end one dangerous attack although Simpson was binned at that point for malpractice at the breakdown in the red zone.
Heathfield duly cleared their lines and the game ended soon afterwards.
Southwark are operating under difficult circumstances with a fluctuating player population whose availability changes every week. They arrived later than ideal today and only had the one replacement so they deserve much credit for the resilient way in which they contributed fully to today’s contest.
The Heathfield coaches were slightly frustrated at the first half performance but felt that every player had contributed. This team can and will play better if not disrupted by injuries.
Rainbow was especially mentioned for his defensive work against the dangerous visiting centres. Jem Macvicker at flanker was having his third game at this level and is building a solid reputation for his hard but inconspicuous work at close quarters together a couple of useful carries today.
Next week Heathfield visit Vigo in the first of three games postponed for Covid reasons (5 Feb 2.15).