Haywards Heath RFC

With four regulars unavailable for a variety of reasons and OEs flying high, this was always going to be a tough game. Heath were under the cosh for the first 20 minutes but defended bravely and resolutely as OEs ran the ball at them at every opportunity. Only the occasional Heath foray - an incisive break from Rob Jackson from deep, supported by Sam Galbraith - tested OE at this stage. Although OE took the lead with a well-struck penalty from White’s trusty boot following an offside offence from a loose scrum, Heath’s defence held firm until the twenty second minute. As Heath came back into the game, they were unable to gather a high kick into the OE half. The home side ran the ball back and from a quickly-taken penalty, the ball was spun along the back line for O’Leary to touch down in the right hand corner. White slotted the extras from the touchline for a 10-0 lead.

At this point Heath shook of their attacking hesitancy and the remainder of the half was all Heath. Jackson reduced the deficit with a penalty from in front of the posts on 28 minutes. With the forwards clearing rucks to provide clean, secure ball, space appeared for Roscoe Atkins and Joe Hoare to ask questions outside. Although spending most of the second quarter camped in OE territory, Heath’s only reward came in injury time as 6’10” Sam Hill, who had caused difficulty for the OE defence earlier, deservedly crashed over following a series of rucks near the OE line. Jackson added the conversion to take the score to 10-10 at the break. Heath supporters eagerly looked forward to the momentum being maintained.

It was not to be as, within three minutes of the start of the second half, OE pounced on early Heath mistakes to sweep the ball upfield. From a scrum on the 22, a number 8 pick-up and a quick transfer to the right saw O Leary scud over for a very simple second try. White again converted from the right touchline. The following few minutes were disastrous for Heath as OE, always dangerous on the break, capitalised on Heath defensive lapses to score three more tries, all from White - a simple finish on the right; a missed tackle in midfield and a strike run from the half way line; an angled run through midfield taking advantage of Hoare’s departure. With a 36-10 deficit, and twenty five minutes to go it all looked pretty ominous for Heath. However, they again found the grit and determination evident in the second quarter of the game.

Despite losing young scrum half Nick Francis with a shoulder dislocation and experienced prop Chris Turner with an ankle problem, Heath struck back. Sam Hill, Jonny Baugh (covering for Hoare in the centre), Huw Jenkins, Salisbury, Printemps, Sam Drage and the ubiquitous Rob Hollingum all took the ball up and to OE. Atkins, Winsor - back at scrum half – and Jackson were incisive. Salisbury was quickly up to chargedown an OE kick behind their line, but the referee ruled that he’d strayed over the dead ball line as he touched down. No try but a series of solid scrums and rucks followed and, despite sound defence from the home side, a drive found Rob Jackson at the bottom of a maul as the try was awarded. There was no further change to the 36-15 scoreline, but Heath continued to run the ball at OEs in the eight minutes of injury time on the clock. They were unfortunate that the odd pass failed to go to hand as they pressed for a final score.
The game was not as one-sided as the scoreline suggests and there was much in the game to give Heath confidence as they approach Guernsey’s visit next Saturday (KO 2.1.5 p.m. at Whiteman’s Green). Scrums and line outs were generally solid, rucks much improved, line breaks made and, for much of the game, defence held firm. Line speed and organisation in defence need attention and will receive it over the next week.

Team: Chris Turner (Jim Prescott, 65), Huw Jenkins (capt), Rob Printemps, Dan Ferguson, Sam Hill, Sam Drage, Josh Salisbury, Rob Hollingum, Nick Francis (Marc Cashman, 62), Dave Winsor, Sam Galbraith, Joe Hoare (Jonny Baugh, 55), Gareth Quay, Roscoe Atkins, Rob Jackson,