Old Dunstonians 17 Heathfield 10
Old Dunstonians deservedly won this postponed SE3 League match as they played the better rugby and looked the sharper side for most of the game. This was a surprising result based on the relative league positions of the two teams but it was not a fluke. Heathfield looked off-key and low on energy.
Heathfield fielded a starting fifteen of decent strength along with probably the youngest bench the club has put out at this level with all three replacements being under 20. Dunstonians were reportedly short of six players away in Paris but their replacements did them proud.
Heathfield played up the significant slope initially and had the breeze in their favour over their left shoulder.
Dunstonians opened the scoring after ten minutes following an attacking lineout on the visitors 22 and they worked their way over from short range.
It was already noticeable that Dunstonians were playing some good attacking rugby sparked by a livewire scrum half and they repeatedly moved the ball to their left winger who made a number of dangerous runs down the line, just contained. Apparently he was one of occasionals called up to cover for the Paris absentees – he looked a very handy player.
The second home try came after 25 minutes from a home scrum in midfield and a Dunstonian centre was able to brush through two ineffectual tackles and then canter home under the posts.
Heathfield then made their first visit to the home half and secured a kickable penalty but it drifted wide.
Dunstonians finished the half strongly but were unable to add to their score.
Given last week’s remarkable comeback against Dover and with the slope to come in their favour Heathfield will not have been too concerned at the 12-0 score line.
The set piece was quite even although the home side were looking more dangerous ball in hand with some strong runners in the pack who were breaking too many tackles for the Heathfield coach’s liking.
Heathfield started the second half strongly and were soon camped in the home 22. At one point they surged over in the right hand corner but knocked on in a heap of bodies. However more sustained pressure in that area eventually led to a try for Dylan Eames. Eames kept up a high work rate throughout the game and was one of the few to emerge with credit on the day.
This score suggested that another comeback was underway but Dunstonians hadn’t read that script and they played their way up the slope into the top right corner. They then worked their way over from the front of an attacking lineout to restore their 12 point lead.
The Heathfield scrum was under some pressure at this stage and Dunstonians were securing majority possession.
Heathfield gradually started to play with more urgency as the clock ticked down. A penalty was tapped for Bryn Jones to make good yards, carried on by Sam Crichton to find Archie Adams who burrowed through a heap of bodies to claim an important score.
In the final seconds Heathfield were again pressing on the home line and some were convinced that they had scored, with the conversion to come to level the scores. However the referee decided otherwise and the game was over.
Dunstonians can take much pleasure from the performance of their team today which belied their relatively lowly league position.
Excuses may be made for Heathfield but they had no complaints about the outcome. The whole team appeared to be lacking in energy compared to recent performances until the last few minutes. The heroic endeavours last Saturday may have left their mark. Also Heathfield have had a game every Saturday since mid-January and this may be taking its toll on their energy levels.
The single losing bonus point keeps Heathfield in touch with Aylesford and Cranbrook but it was not the hoped-for return and those rivals will be pleasantly surprised at today’s result. However with two games remaining the final league positions of the three clubs are still undecided.
Next Saturday Heathfield entertain Vigo (26 Mar 3.00) but Vigo will have had the benefit of a week’s rest while Heathfield have to stir themselves into action for the tenth week in a row.