2nd XV Results / Match reports

Crowborough RFC 2^nd XV 11 v’s Heathfirld RFC 3^rd XV 8

This was a match that both sides needed to win.  Heathfield in third place of the Sussex League 2 East, still had a mathematical chance of securing promotion to the Intermediate League, while league leaders Crowborough needed two wins from their final two games for automatic promotion. 

This weekend was to have been a free weekend, but the congestion to the fixture list caused by the January snow, meant that fixtures had to be completed on the next available Saturday. With several Crowborough regulars committed to a long standing event elsewhere, ‘Boro had to call on the walking wounded and long term absentees to make up the numbers. Such is the spirit in this second team, forged by Farramus, Cooper and coach Sayer, that all of those who were asked, and many who weren’t, rallied round in this time of need.  

With so much riding on the outcome this was never going to be a classic. Both sides were intent on not making mistakes and of losing, rather than playing their normal adventurous attacking games. Playing the game down the middle of the park, and keeping the ball tight, both sets of defenders did an admirable job in preventing an expansive game, by tackling everything that moved.  

As the tension mounted, so did the niggles, that then progressed to fouls and  indiscipline, something that is not normally associated with these two sides. As Crowborough held onto the ball once too often Heathfield gratefully accepted the three points, only to gift them back to Silvi for the exact same offence two minutes later. 3-3 

The only remarkable aspect of the first half was that the score did not reflect the large number of kickable penalties that were missed by both sides. 

As the sides turned around it was Crowborough who appeared to want to win this match the most, as they moved the ball wide at every opportunity and although they were camped deep in the Heathfield half for much of the third quarter, they came up against a resolute defence that denied them the lead. However following yet another offence by the defending side, ten metres out from their line, Jon Pass took a quick tap penalty and with the defence still setting themselves, crashed over the line to score out wide for an unconverted try.8-3 

Crowborough went further ahead, after Silvi, having first missed a kickable penalty, then slotted a 45 metre drop goal firmly between the uprights. 11-3 

This was the signal for Heathfield to abandon their safety first approach, as they slung caution to the wind and attacked across the whole width of the park, taking the ball deep into the ‘Boro half. Only excellent defensive work kept Heathfield from scoring, although the games’ discipline was quickly deteriorating, as frustration set in. 

 This manifested itself in a strange incident that followed a penalty awarded to Heathfield for coming in at the side of the ruck. The kick was pulled well wide of the posts and drifted towards the left corner flag. Presumably assuming the ball had crossed the goal line and into touch the official blew the whistle to indicate a 22 drop out. At the sound of the whistle most players from both sides started to set themselves up for the restart, when the alert Heathfield winger following up the kick, saw that the ball had not gone into touch, and touched the ball down unchallenged. The referee then appeared to award the try.  

A somewhat robust conversation took place, before the Heathfield captain, in a magnanimous gesture that one sees all too infrequently, informed the referee that under the circumstance his side could not accept being awarded the try, which was then duly reversed.

This  Corinthianesque concession, reduced the tension at a stroke and allowed the game to progress to an exciting conclusion as Heathfield, requiring two scores, pressured the ‘Boro line, eventually working a two man overlap to score wide in the corner. The kick was missed and the referee blew the final whistle to bring an eventful match to an end. 11-8. 

 Crowborough have one more match against a strong Ditchling side at a date to be confirmed in late March or early April.