The Crowborough Match Reporters are both Away on Vacation !
So our friend's from Heathfield & Waldron provided the report written By Phil Bell, (thanks Phil ! )
With the try scorers added by yours truly !

Our Referee called today was called up at short notice, was Mr Kevin Hurdwell, (Thanks Kevin for a good job - Well Done).

Today's Photo's Supplied by Mr Denys Clarke

Eleven tries, one score in it, controversial decisions, lots of open play, down to the last play – yup that’s Crowborough v Heathfield.
The well-grassed pitch was just taking a stud after Friday’s mini-monsoon and looked excellent. The temperature was well into the 20’s and with little cooling breeze conditions challenged the fitness of all players. This certainly showed in the final stages.
Crowborough started brightly and moved good scrum ball into midfield before good hands produced a try in the left hand corner after just two minutes, (Will Pitman). A few minutes later more pressure from the home side produced a scrum in the visitors’ 22 and the ball was duly worked over for the second home try, (Andrew Kidd) this time converted, (Connor Hand).
Having won from 20 points down last week Heathfield were completely unperturbed by the 12-0 scoreline and started to make increasing pressure in midfield. Tom Cornwall made a handy interception at close quarters and then good hands by Tom Tingley, Aiden Plumly and Jo Lewis ended with an attacking lineout in the left hand corner. This was quickly taken and after a few phases Lewis muscled his way over for Heathfield’s opening try.
As the game entered the second quarter Heathfield were starting to look more in control and scored two quick tries. A botched home lineout was well exploited and a kick into the right hand corner was followed up by Lucas Cuming who pressured the defender into conceding a drop out. This was immediately worked into the left hand corner where George Walter worked his way over.
From the restart Heathfield quickly moved the ball left through Jay Massey-Taylor and then Tingley before Massey-Taylor took the return pass to canter over under the posts, duly converted by Tom Reilly (12-17).
Entering the last ten minutes of the half Crowborough scored another good try through good hands down their left flank to level the score, (Harry Marchesi) at 17-17. This was answered at the very end of the half as good scrum ball was worked through a couple of phases before Toby Simpson was given a chance down the left hand side which he gratefully accepted for the bonus point try and the conversion gave a half time score of 17-24.
The set piece was generally even with the Heathfield scrummage mostly holding its own after the last two games when it has been under pressure. The reappearance of Reece Webb was certainly part of that combined with the benefit of specialist coaching in that phase from Olly Smith in training which is starting to produce benefits. The lineout was generally even although a couple of simple Heathfield errors on that phase in the second half did not help.
Early Heathfield pressure onto the home try line was eventually cleared and good hands should have resulted in a Crowborough try in the left hand corner but Simpson managed a try-saving rip at the last moment. Soon afterwards Crowborough did cross the line but sturdy defensive work meant the ball was held up.
Olly Tooke now had to retire with a nasty gash to the head which allowed George Hayter to make his welcome reappearance.
Both sides were showing a pleasing determination to play an open game, moving the ball wide whenever possible. Entering the last quarter Crowborough scored another good backs try in the right hand corner, (Will Pitman) to level the score (24-24). (Jonah Houghton kicking the Conversion).
Reilly then made a lovely break from good lineout ball but he was just thwarted a few yards out and the home defence scrambled the ball away.
We now come to the potentially game deciding moments. With about 15 minutes remaining Crowborough had ball in hand on the half way line when a penalty was given against Heathfield for a deliberate knock on. After some confusion over who had been responsible Cornwall was shown a yellow card. Reportedly even the home team players told the referee that he had not touched the ball but once a decision has been made that is the end of the matter.
Soon afterwards a Heathfield kick out of defence went straight out. As most players were walking back to the lineout, Crowborough incorrectly took a quick lineout with a different ball and charged into the left hand corner resulting in an important try to give them the lead, (Joe Chapman).
Momentum was now clearly with the home team as the extra man in strength-draining conditions allowed them to collect their sixth try from short range, (Josh Jarvis) (36-24). Conversion By Jonah Houghton.
Nonetheless Heathfield dominated the last minutes and were awarded a penalty try for some malpractice at the breakdown although Walter will probably claim it as his try as he plunged over the line as the whistle went to collect the losing bonus point.
There was just time for the restart and Heathfield hammered away into the home half but finally the ball was kicked into touch and the game was over.
Afterwards Tingley was the obvious man of the match for Heathfield and many opposition wingers will hope he soon returns to the back row so they do not face being boshed out of the way.
At least Heathfield collected two points from the game which leaves them in second place in the league as Canterbury inevitably took over the top spot.