Haywards Heath RFC

After a difficult January, mainly against top-of-the table opposition, Heath impressed with a fine first half display that left them 19-7 up at half time and looking for just one more try for a bonus point. Although for much of the game their scrums were shaky and susceptible to a disruptive wheel, Ben Davis’s tidying up at the base provided the counterbalance. The line outs functioned well, the back row were quick to the ball and to pounce on Sidcup’s mistakes and Rob Jackson’s positional kicking was on song.

Only two minutes had elapsed when a stray kick from the visitors was flipped on by Huw Jenkins for Dom Fry, playing his first 1st XV game of the season, to streak over on the left corner. No points from the difficult conversion but Heath maintained the pressure interspersed by some brittle defence in midfield as new centre pairing Fry and Greg Jackson found their feet. Sidcup’s impressive inside centre, Richard Day, was quick to exploit any frailty, usually from deep. Basic errors, however, meant that the visitors were unable to capitalise on his skills. Heath looked the more threatening side as they pressed in Sidcup’s 22. Following an abortive drop goal attempt from Rob Jackson, Heath showed patience in setting up a series of rucks. From the fourth of these, the ball was moved to Jackson who sliced through near the posts, converting his own try for a 12-0 lead on twelve minutes.
The Sidcup response came quickly. A long kick from a penalty gave them a line out on the Heath five metre line. With their bulky forwards looking well organised, the driving maul and a try under a pile of bodies was inevitable. Veteran full back Jim Hardy narrowed the lead to 12-7 with a fine conversion from wide on the right. For much of the rest of the half Heath were in control with Josh Salisbury, Sam Hill, Sam Drage, Sam Maynard – playing his first ever game at scrum half – and Rob Hollingum taking the ball up and Rob Jackson’s boot firing effectively for position. It wasn’t until the 38th minute that Heath broke through in similar format to their second try. A series of rucks and a short pass from Jackson created the space for Garth Quay to run in for a convincing and deserved score. Jackson added the extras and the lead was 19-7. Sidcup pressed in the last few minutes of the half but Heath defended well against driving mauls and the lead remained intact.

The headline story in the third quarter was Heath’s inability to convince the referee – the impressive Tracey Pettingale – that their work on the ground was legitimate. A 12-1 penalty count against the home side in this period gave Hardy the opportunity to whittle away the lead. Four penalties, one from 40 metres and another from a full 50 metres, kicked Sidcup back into the game with a 19-19 score line and twenty minutes left on the clock. Heath continued to play with their heads up and spirits intact. Sidcup were pinned in their 22 and five minutes later, Maynard caught the visitor’s 8 in possession at the back of a scrum 5. The loose ball was swiftly picked up by the ever-alert Salisbury for the bonus point try.

Although territory and control was with Sidcup in the final phase of the game, a combination of Sidcup errors and some heroic defence from Heath saw the final whistle blow with Heath still in the lead and heartened by an important win. Josh Salisbury was the players’ Idelwild man-of the match for the second week running with an honourable mention for Sam Maynard’s gutsy performance.

With Beckenham, Dover, and Cobham all losing, Heath leapt three places. They will take heart from a victory that was decisive in try terms and a boost for the confidence as a series of bottom half teams appear on the horizon.

Team
Chris Turner, Huw Jenkins (captain), Jamie Burnham, Sam Hill (Steve May, 58), Robert Hollingum, Sam Drage, Josh Salisbury, Ben Davis, Sam Maynard, Rob Jackson, Marc Cashman, Greg Jackson, Dom Fry, Roscoe Atkins, Gareth Quay. Replacements not used: Sam Shelley, Joe Feldman.