Aylesford 12 Heathfield 27
Thanks to Michael Curtin from Aylesford for some pics including the one above of Sam W (not) scoring in the corner.
Heathfield were decisive bonus point winners of this excellent fiercely contested SE3 clash between the teams lying 2nd and 3rd in the table before the game. Spectators from both sides afterwards commented on how good a contest this was with a combination of skill, strength, teamwork and guts producing a compelling contest that generally reflected well on the game of rugby.
Several Heathfield players reported later on how they had emerged from the changing rooms in the right frame of mind and this certainly showed in the first half hour of the game during which they took a decisive lead.
In the opening plays Aylesford went through repeated phases in the visitors’ half but without making any serious penetration. A penalty then allowed Heathfield to move upfield and from the consequent lineout the ball was moved wide left for Jack Brown to make a useful run down the line and probably thought he had scored – however he had touched the line and so play came back for a lineout. Nonetheless Heathfield immediately recovered possession and the ball was again moved wide with Jayden Rainbow finishing well in the right hand corner, leaving a tricky conversion for Harry Reilly which he nonetheless slotted.
A Heathfield defensive scrum provided secure ball and a blindside move gave Sam Williams on the right wing a little space which he duly exploited with a long run and was only just denied in the right hand corner by a foot in touch in the act of scoring.
At this point Heathfield had the majority of possession and were playing at a tempo and accuracy that was stretching the home side. Ball carriers were being supported by runners who always kept play moving. All of the pack were involved but Sam Crichton and Dylan Eames were being especially effective.
This pressure resulted in two longish Heathfield penalty attempts but both drifted wide. As the game entered the second quarter Heathfield were hammering away into the right hand corner and eventually an Aylesford flanker was binned for dragging a maul down near their 5m line, unsurprisingly with a 6-0 penalty count against them at that point. Soon afterwards an attacking lineout was efficiently driven on and Eames claimed a hard-earned try for a 0-12 score line.
As the game approached the half hour mark Aylesford started to fight their way back into the game. They began to disrupt the visitors’ play by assorted means and make some threatening attacks of their own leading to their first visit to the visitors’ 22. An attack in midfield was only just stopped in the shadow of the posts and Dion Comerford was now given ten minutes on the naughty step for a high tackle. Interestingly Aylesford chose to restart with a scrum but Heathfield were soon able to turn the ball over and work back upfield.
Comerford was making his first appearance for Heathfield, by chance against his previous club, and he had a generally decent game also marked by some inevitable banter between him and the home supporters and team.
The game became messy at this point with some niggle and assorted handbags which resulted in Sam Brown having to retire. Refs at this level are working in isolation and cannot see everything that goes on. Today’s ref Simon Musselwhite, who normally officiates at higher levels, had his usual impressively quiet and undemonstrative game which allowed play to flow as much as possible.
Youthful Tom Pritchard (his words) replaced Sam Brown at hooker. The Heathfield scrum had a distinct edge at times without dominance.
The half ended with another Aylesford attack but a dangerous chip into the bottom corner was just thwarted.
Aylesford will have been hoping for an early response in the second half but a Munch May steepling overhead kick was well followed by J Brown who recovered the ball and he had too much pace for the cover defence for a try in the left hand corner. Reilly missed the conversion but soon afterwards struck a penalty from near the half way line to give Heathfield a 22 point lead.
The middle period of the second half was generally messy with neither side in control and little overall pattern to the play. Williams had another entertaining run down the right flank but yet again failed to walk the line (is that a song?). Sam Crichton had to retire with a shoulder injury allowing Jack Ruddock to come on at tight head with Dan Bird moving to hooker. Several observers afterwards commented on Bird’s contribution throughout the game even with a dodgy wrist.
Aylesford were themselves disrupted by injury but were making strenuous efforts to get back into the contest. In this period Tom Tingley was repeatedly noted with some massive tackles knocking back ball carriers while skipper Gus Taylor was having another impactful game in all phases.
Approaching the last ten minutes a penalty gave Aylesford good position in the left hand corner and eventually they worked the ball over for a deserved albeit unconverted score so a comeback may have seemed just possible (5-22).
However this merely seemed to galvanise Heathfield who charged back down the other end and from a lineout several phases ended with quick ruck ball being moved by May to Comerford who found Williams to finish in the corner (without walking the line!). This gave Heathfield the try bonus point. May had a hand in much of the good play today but he also managed to trip up a potential try scorer so his balance sheet is mixed.
There was just time for Aylesford to make one last attack and collect a consolation converted try but everyone knew that this changed nothing in terms of the result or league table points.
Results elsewhere in the league are both intriguing and disturbing. Heathfield are clearly in the mix in the top part of the table but it is too early to be confident about the final outcome. However some injuries today will start to put pressure on home resources in the next few weeks.
Heathfield next entertain Gillingham Anchorians at home (23 Oct 3.00) who today had a win over Southwark Lancers and will thus arrive in good heart.