East Grinstead 2 20 Heathfield Rangers 10
On a day when most matches were being cancelled because of frozen ground, the second pitch at East Grinstead (EG) was rightly adjudged to be playable with just enough of a thaw on an otherwise still frozen ground to take a stud.
EG are unbeaten in this small league this year while Heathfield have often struggled to raise a team and have just one draw in the positive column thus far. While this was another loss for the visitors, the game certainly did not reflect the relative league status.
Although Heathfield started the game well retaining possession through several phases, it felt as though they were facing an uphill struggle against a larger and older side. EG had the first use of the (very) slight slope but also of the stiff breeze in their favour.
Indeed after 6 minutes a poor kick out of defence by Heathfield allowed the home backs to move the ball wide into the right hand corner for their outside centre to open the scoring. Reportedly he is an Australian having his first game for EG and he went on to score all three of their tries on the day. Their skipper afterwards acknowledged that their try scorer would be unlikely to play for his team very often hereafter.
At this stage EG had most possession and territory, helped by dominance in the scrum. Watching Heathfield Head Coach Sam Goatcher was nonetheless impressed by the excellent defensive team work in this period. William Wallis and Craig Martin were already noted with strong carries.
However on the half hour EG collected their second try through good hands into the left hand corner. Heathfield were a long way from beaten and my notes started to include words like ‘feisty’ for much of the rest of the game. They were also now being led by inspirational skipper Jack Bayley at scrum half although he had started on the bench and he now made one crucial, and sneaky, steal at the base of the scrum to keep EG contained.
In almost the last play of that half EG collected their third, and probably decisive, try as that man again crossed in the left hand corner for a half time score of 17-0.
This looked unpromising but the second half was a very different story. This was partly down to Tommy Buck, who had arrived only expecting to be a spectator, but who now took over at tight head and transformed the scrummage so Heathfield thereafter had a clear edge in that phase.
This enabled Heathfield to start the half on the front foot and a short range tap penalty provided Bayley with a simple opportunity to dive over for a try in the left hand corner.
A few minutes later more Heathfield pressure into the right hand corner resulted in a penalty 5m out. The option of a scrum was sensible but control of the ball was lost at the base and the chance was gone.
However it soon looked as though this would not matter as Heathfield worked their way, helped by poor EG discipline, back into the left hand corner. An attacking lineout went wrong but Martin dived on the loose ball and made it available to Wallis lurking on the undefended blindside who was able to stroll over for a well-deserved try.
With a quarter of the game left and Heathfield clearly on the front foot, the result was much in doubt. Crucially EG now made a rare visit to the visitors’ half and a penalty edged them two scores clear (20-10)
The last few minutes saw several Heathfield attacks, especially into the left hand corner. On one of them Martin nearly worked his way over in the corner from a lineout but the strong home defence just did enough.
Veteran Kevin Parker had joined the Heathfield front row to help provide guidance to the young referee and continue his side’s control of this area.
Nonetheless with a few minutes remaining Buck was binned for inappropriate comments to the referee when (high?) tackled a few yards out from the home try line. The subsequent penalty given against EG with no card against a home player was confusing – to me anyway.
This well-contested game ended appropriately with another scuffle.
This was a young Heathfield side who all earned much credit against a home pack in particular which included some large and mature individuals. While Wallis and Martin were the top performers on the day, there was also praise afterwards for Henry Whitaker’s workrate and Dylan Parson’s all round contribution.
Aiden Plumley and Liam Dunkley also both made significant impact as would be expected from players who would otherwise have been on the bench for the 1st XV.
Coaches from both sides will have learned much from the game as will the young referee who was being watched by multiple senior referees. He will have better games.
Next week Heathfield Rangers visit Hellingly in what should be another excellent contest (27 Jan 2.00)
Squad in no particular order of position or significance
Jack Dannell, Craig Martin, Ryan Tompson, William Wallis, Joe Nichols, Charlie Snodin, Henry Whittaker, Fin Harman, George Lee, Jack Bayley, Dylan Parsons, Dan Canneaux, James Woodroffe, Olly Marshall, Monty Simmonds, Kevin Parker, Tommy Buck, Aiden Plumley, Harry Westgate.
Gus Wright would like to have joined in but was probably more effective as touch judge.