Heathfield Rangers 10 Rye 10
Thanks to Edward Child for the better pics
Heathfield Rangers (formerly known as Heathfield 2s) eventually drew with a resilient Rye team in a friendly match which did exactly what was required in terms of giving full-contact match practise before the serious business of league games begins.
A decent crowd of players and supporters enjoyed this first home game of the 2022-23 season in warm conditions and a good atmosphere.
Rye had just 16 players so might have appeared to be outgunned by the home squad of nearly thirty. However the need to give all of the home squad some game time meant that the team was continually changing and combinations had limited time together. There was a considerable range of skills, ability and fitness on display, not to mention a wide range of ages.
Rye certainly showed the benefits of teamwork and although their pack also appeared to be physically smaller than the home side they were an effective unit who should do well in their league campaign.
The pitch was in remarkably good condition considering the dry summer. Heathfield has invested in a serious piece of semi-automated watering equipment and the benefits were obvious today with a good grass covering on a surface just taking a stud.
Rye opened the scoring after eight minutes when they ran back a loose kick out of defence by the home side and good hands moved the ball to their left wing in a little space and he finished well in the corner, impressively converted by their fly half.
Heathfield had the best of the rest of the quarter with Tom Riley kicking well out of hand to secure good field position in the bottom corner although the visitors’ defence was just proving adequate. Craig Martin caught the eye several times cleaning up loose ball and making good yards in heavy traffic.
Halfway through the second quarter a sequence of Heathfield possession was completed by some sensible handling before Sam Goatcher found Ellis Wilson for a good try (5-7).
Rye charged back and went close in the top corner with George Hayter collecting a yellow for some alleged malpractice off the ball. The home defence held out until the half time whistle.
The only score in the third quarter was a try by Callum O’Reilly in the top corner after a period of sustained home pressure (10-7). Although this was a friendly match it was being seriously contested as evidenced by a minor outbreak of handbags at this point.
Injuries now meant that Rye were running out of players so a couple of Heathfield players helped them out.
Heathfield were now having majority possession but Rye were awarded a penalty on the halfway line and their impressive kicker duly slotted the points to tie the scores. Then Liam Dunkley probably thought he had made a match-winning interception but he was adjudged, harshly some thought, to have been offside.
Heathfield had the better of the remaining time but a combination of poor options, errors and doughty Rye defence meant there was no further scoring. Heathfield did have one very kickable penalty opportunity but they chose to go for the corner where Rye were able to disrupt the resulting lineout.
The home coaches were generally pleased with the whole performance. Apart from those mentioned above they particularly mentioned Jez Burdett, Jay Massey-Taylor, Ben Weston and Regan Law.
The Rangers start their league campaign on 24th September when they play Eastbourne 2s away.