The Rangers overwhelmed BSMS with a strong forward performance that took early control and the result of this Sussex Vase final was rarely in doubt. BSMS had several decent players but they clearly have limited resources along with professional demands that make producing a team difficult.
Conditions were excellent with a well-grassed but very firm surface and no significant wind on a warm occasionally cloudy day. The team was well-supported by many family and friends. Since many of the team are mature there were plenty of offspring admiring their fathers’ efforts – well maybe not admiring but at least they were there.
Heathfield played up the slope and soon established control mainly through the forwards. Soon a scrum in the left hand corner allowed the old firm of Lee Vockins and Gus Taylor to combine for a simple score for the latter. A few minutes later Vockins benefitted from more strong work by his pack to claim the next score.
The Heathfield pack were the dominant force in the game and along with Taylor, Craig Martin, Warren Wright and skipper Dan Canneaux often caught my eye as they showed that the years may have passed but that they can still be a skilful force to be reckoned with some good close inter-passing. (Just as well that they didn’t have to play the full 80!) Youngster Jack Ruddock was also making some eye-catching bullocking runs that kept the team on the front foot.
The next Rangers try fell to Lawrence Patten on the end of some decent handling. However BSMS were not rolling over and good hands took them into the bottom corner by the Eastbourne clubhouse, leading to a yellow for Finn Crane. Soon an attacking scrum produced a try for BSMS.
Regrettably the BSMS hooker had to retire hurt at this point. The scrums were thereafter uncontested but this did mean that BSMS had to drop a player as they did not have the required front row replacement, thus compounding their problems.
The Rangers soon resumed pressure on the medics try line. Consecutive phases ended with veteran replacement Kevin Parker (56?) boshing his way over from short range. This was soon followed by Patten’s second try on the day. Notably Martin took on the conversion and was (just) successful. Martin also made several useful runs ball in hand – at a mere 40 years old he has plenty of games left in him.
Tom Aldrich then marked his return to rugby after a five month gap with a try although the team was then handicapped by a yellow for Tommy Buck. Indeed BSMS ended the half with a try of their own for a half time score of 38-10.
The second half opened with a solo effort by Archie Adam who worked his way through several tackles for a fine try. Notably the conversion came off all three pieces of woodwork before finally dropping on the right(?) side.
BSMS were still competing and some pressure into the top right corner resulted in the Rangers third yellow on the day for Wright (Wazza). The clarification is needed as another Wright, Angus, another serious veteran who won’t see 40 again, put in a decent shift with some good defensive work.
Then good lineout ball reached fly half Dan Suggitt who stepped inside the first tackle and happily strolled into relatively unguarded space for a simple score. Adam then worked his way over from a tap penalty. BSMS did then manage to reach the Rangers half but the ball was turned over and Patten stepped his way past despairing tackles for his third try on the day.
The last Rangers score fell to Ruddock who charged over from some way out. He was arguably the standout player on the day.
Understandably BSMS then called it a day as the result was clear and they were running out of bodies. (Although I did hear one of their players call for a paramedic at one point – I thought they were doctors?)
The Rangers thus end the season with some silverware after a generally positive but mixed season. The failure to turn out a team on several occasions naturally hurt their league standings but the quality of available players is undoubted as shown today – and next season will be here all too soon.
The Heathfield season ends with the Bob Rogers Final between Heathfield and Hove at Haywards Heath on 30th May.