This was the first meeting between these close neighbours in several seasons, and the two Sussex representatives in this strangely titled “Counties Kent 1 League” ran out in front of a large crowd boosted by over 90 well fed diners who had sat down to the second league lunch of the season.
Crowborough had lost both of their opening games with the visitors winning their only completed encounter.
From the kick off, ‘Boro, anxious to put their losing ways behind them took the ball at pace, and with close support , strong running lines and safe hands ‘Boro stormed into the Heathfield 22.
Although ‘Boro have been on the wrong side of the score lines to date, the pack have had the measure of all the opponents they have come up against , so it was no surprise that the ball was kept tight in these opening minutes. On two occasions ‘Boro tried to bludgeon their way over the line but the Heathfield pack held firm , until Alex Purnell added his presence to the maul and took the ball over the line for a Jonte Fraser converted first score. 7-0 after just 5 minutes.
Heathfield having weathered the initial blitz by ‘Boro, brought structure to their own attack, and having little luck battling through, they switched their attack to exploiting the ‘Boro backs.
In recent weeks injury has made it difficult to get that necessary degree of consistency on selection of the back division, which is crucial in developing that natural confidence in attack and that prediction of what will develop in defence.
This aspect has been addressed in training and as the Heathfield attacks developed through the centre, the collective line closed down the space between the sides enabling both Tom Boddy and Alex Purnell to catch man and ball and stem the various attacks.
However as Heathfield raised their game they managed to move the ball into the ‘Boro 22 on the right. From a scrum some 20 metres out from the ‘Boro line the Heathfield #9 broke right, throwing a dummy before exploiting a rare open space close to the scrum to scamper over the line for a well worked unconverted try. 7-5 with 25 minutes played.
From the kick off Heathfield developed their own charging drive blasting through a porous defence with six missed tackled before being penalised. Crowborough put the penalty into the Heathfield 22 some 15 metres from the line. From the lineout Crowborough were awarded a scrum. As the nudge came on the well drilled pack surged forward driving the visitors over their line leaving Sam Skinner the simple chance to touch down for the score. The kick was missed. 12-5
The half was still not over, but the remaining minutes needed to be managed to ensure the margin was maintained into the second half. Unfortunately this was not to be the case.
Crowborough transgressed in their own 22, and with growing confidence Heathfield ignored the simple 3 points and put the ball into the corner. From the lineout Heathfield won the ball and crabbed towards the posts before putting on the drive. It required three attempts but the third was successful taking the ball over the line for a well worked if not risky converted try.12-12 HT
From the restart, Crowborough showed a change of tactics moving the ball through the backs, and with Fraser joining at pace on the left only the intervention of the touchline saved the Heathfield line from being crossed.
From the lineout the Heathfield #15 cleared upfield with a huge kick, fielded by Connor Hand who was pinged for holding-on in the absence of any close support. Strangely it was Andy Kidd that took the yellow card as Heathfield were granted a penalty.12-15
Down to 14 men and with Alex Purnell limited by a damaged ankle, to tackling in his channel, Heathfield gambled that ‘Boro would continue to defend narrowly, and shipped the ball wide creating the overlap for the wing to score out wide for a well converted try 12-22 and a 10 point margin.
Andy Orchard followed Alex Purnell onto the treatment bench as Kieran Martin, was brought on at #10 with a corresponding rearrangement to the backs. Crowborough continued to attack with Matt Botterman making a storming run but such was his speed of his break that the necessary support needed to finish off the certain try was not there. Likewise Tom Kent crossed the line only for it to be determined “held up” for a goal line drop out.
With the drop out falling short ‘Boro set up a maul, from which Kieran Martin, seeing Sam Skinner standing out wide on the wing, slung out a 25 metre pin point pass that Sam Skinner took in his stride to score an unconverted try out wide on the right, bringing the score to 17-22, and setting up a grandstand finish with time running out.
This again was time for ‘Boro to manage the clock and territory, but allowed Heathfield to maintain possession and with several lacklustre attempts to slow the advance ‘Boro gave away a penalty. A quick tap and the fourth bonus point converted try was scored, taking ‘Boro away from a losing bonus point 17-29 as the full time whistle brought the game to an end.
This is the third defeat where the margin belies the real nature of the game. With the return of injured absentees their moment will surely come