COSTLY VICTORY FOR VIGO

The grittiest of victories, but at some cost. Vigo cleared the bench but had to endure a last minute battering with only 13 fit players – Chris Johnson and Adam Fitzgerald limping heavily, but forced to remain on the pitch such was the attritional nature of this game.
Heathfield were obviously so worried about their first ever meeting with Vigo RFC, that they had to call on the services of nearby Waldron to take on the Villagers, but they duly arrived with a team that looked as if they were on a school break, a team with so many teenagers in the side, the physio had to be CRB checked. Vigo’s average age was about 24, their visitors about 22.
On a grey, chilly, overcast day, the pitch immaculate, the two teams did produce a game, which, though error-strewn, was full of incident. A bit like an amateur opera, really, bit of a boring first half, where the brass section i.e. the referee’s whistle drowned out the action, building up to a thunderous crescendo, the curtain call full of walking wounded and dead bodies. But, hey ho, another win for Vigo moving them to 4th in the table.
Vigo actually started the game with some confidence, a searing break by Liam Byrne-Stevens splitting the visiting defence, eventually halted by some good cover defence, but Byrne-Stevens and Elliot Stickings had nailed their colours firmly to the door. ‘Field (forgive me for the abbreviation – I’m likely to suffer from RSI if I have to type the full name all the time), knew they would have to keep a close eye on the twin fliers. However, they were assisted in their defensive task by a curious predilection for the penalty by the home side. It seemed like every break down Vigo were penalised for one thing or another. Thus, the afore-mentioned opera was rather a staccato affair, H&W happily clearing their lines to the accompaniment of a certain amount of head shaking by the players, and much gnashing of teeth by the beloved coach, John Whitehead. So, it was no real surprise to anyone then when H&W went ahead with a penalty by their accomplished kicker, Lucas Cuming.
Vigo kept attacking, Vigo kept getting penalised. In between the penalties, Vigo did fashion some good moves, but if the referee didn’t get them, then their own lack of composure in the final pass did. That’s not to say, the visitors did not have their moments, their young backs bold and quick, sorely testing Vigo’s defence. Harry Wilson left the field in some distress, with a neck injury, but the welcome return from injury of Phil Sewell(ipola) was of some comfort. Then, after a thunderous break down the wing by Adam Fitzgerald saw him helped off the pitch, a leg injury temporarily ending his game. Vigo pressed but H&W’s back row, in which Ollie Robertshaw and Owen Hayhurst, shining through the gathering gloom, were able to extract penalties at (seemingly) every breakdown. It was a war of attrition, undoubtedly, a few seeds of progress sown by Chris Johnson and Byrne-Stevens, failing to flower.
Thus the first half stuttered to an end, the Vigo team retreating to their changing room, which would undoubtedly need a new coat of paint, such was the glowering countenance of the coach. However, the tirade did not materialise, Mr. Whitehead impressing on the need to become more clinical and asking for more composure. And how they heeded his instructions. Within minutes of the restart, Vigo attacked from deep, worked the ball to Byrne-Stevens who scorched through the visitors’ defence to score between the posts. Tony Whitehead’s conversion was a formality. Now, Vigo had the veritable bit between their collective teeth. More precise in the passing, given the go-forward by great breaks by Ben Moorhouse and Johnson, Vigo attacked from all directions. Johnson was by now at full back, James Clemmence having been injured just before the break. But, H&W weathered the mini-storm and began to move down the field. They began to dominate proceedings, Vigo forced on to the back foot for some length of time. But Vigo held and counter-attacked, themselves earning a few penalties. Will James drove forward and Vigo moved the ball across the field, Ollie Stringer denied a try in the corner by the well-placed referee. However, from the 5 metre scrum, H&W were shoved off the ball by a superb drive by Vigo’s pack, Dave Winstone gathering the loose ball and blasting over for a try.
H&W returned to the attack, and pounded the Vigo line. Dom Mickelburgh, who had come off the bench for Clemmence and had been happily smashing anything that moved, went down in a worrying heap, stretchered off with a serious looking knee injury. Back came a limping Fitzgerald, moving into the back row. Cuming booted a fine penalty as H&W subjected Vigo to heavy pressure. Then, Johnson was smashed in a controversial tackle, and was reduced to hobbling about the back line. Toby Harrison, an accomplished fly half, recognised this and dinked some lovely little kicks to test Johnson’s mobility, and Vigo were desperately holding on.
Time was running out, H&W were gathering the usual kitchen furniture to throw at Vigo, and deep into injury time, after moving the ball back and forth, they scored. Both sides were probably struggling to actually see the ball, such was the Stygian gloom enveloping the pitch, but H&W had obviously been eating their carrots, Jeremy Burdett latching onto the ball and sweeping over. Last kick of the match and a relatively easy kick for Cuming. But the rain had been pretty steady and Cuming’s standing foot slipped slightly, producing the same sort of shank I have been producing on the golf course all my golfing life, and the ball sailed wide, to the obvious and rather loud delight of the Vigo faithful. But their triumphalism was perhaps justified, having snatched victory from the very jaws of defeat.
Star Man: Ben Moorhouse
Scorers: Vigo: Tries: Byrne-Stevens (42’), Winstone 65’). Cons: T.Whitehead (1). Heathfield & Waldren : tries : Burdett (80 +10’). Pens: Cuming (2)
Vigo team: J.Clemmence (rep: D.Mickelburgh); A.Fitzgerald (rep: D.Carslaw), L.Byrne-Stevens, O.Stringer, E.Stickings; T.Whitehead, C.Whitehead; W.James, H.Wilson (rep: P.Sewell), G.Rawlings; L.Wiltshire, J.French; D.Winstone, C.Johnson; B.Moorhouse
Referee: S.Bingham (SEFed)
Fraser Goatcher (H&W captain) We were great at the breakdown, but we couldn’t deal with Vigo’s outside centre and winger. But I’m proud of the effort; great shame that the last kick of the game was missed
Dave Cook (Head Coach): Competitive game; unlucky not to snatch it at the end. We have a very young side, and they will have learnt a lot from this. Looking forward to the return fixture.
John Whitehead (Vigo head coach)Sometimes you just have to win ugly and that was certainly the case today. We managed to get over the line, albeit with a bit of luck at the end. Games are always difficult when you have the ascendancy but not go as you would expect. Another day, we will play worse and win easily.
Tony Whitehead (Vigo skipper) Tough game. We couldn’t finish our opportunities. We need to work on our ball skills in pressure situations. But it was a good effort and lots of heart; managed to dog it out.