Before this local derby, the home side were sitting pretty in third position in the League, some 25 points ahead of their neighbours in 7th place on 50 points.
Heathfield’s season has been characterised by several high scoring games, where they came out on top, but tellingly, with eight results being decided by less than 8 points. This match up was destined to be the ninth.
In recent weeks Crowborough have given their opposition too much respect, before putting together winning performances. This encounter was to be no different, going down 12 points in the first ten minutes, having coughed up loose attacking ball, which the lively Heathfield backs gratefully accepted, and having thrown the back three into the initial foray , the ‘Boro defence was caught napping and short of numbers. 12-0
The previous week it took ‘Boro until well into the second quarter before they were able to aggressively match their opposition. Such a derby as this however, needed no cajoling from the coaches, and both sides gave little quarter with strong running and robust tackling.
Having weathered the initial storm, and realising that the scoreline was of their own making ,rather than the oppositions tactics, Crowborough stuck to their game plan, and moved the ball quickly from the contact area, down the line to the wings, testing the Heathfield defence on several occasions.
As the ‘Boro attack crossed into the Heath 22, Heath , in what was to be the latest in a litany of transgressions that saw little sanction all afternoon, gave away a penalty in front of the posts. Jared Hermann posted his sides intent with a kick to touch. The lineout was won by Bennett and with Croft and Hand moving the ball wide Jarvis latched onto the pass and crossed over the line, only for the official to declare the ball held up?
‘Boro continued to attack down the right with Connor Hand putting in a chip behind the defence, which was fielded but knocked on. From the scrum ‘Boro moved the ball wide and Joe Chapman latched onto the pass in mid field ,side stepped the cover to score a fine Jared Hermann converted try. 12-7
With ‘Boro taking the initiative and ever increasing confidence from the score, the next seven points for the visitors were book ended by several more pieces of blatant indiscipline that eventually resulted in a yellow card. With ‘Boro camped deep in the Heathfield half a long Croft pass from a ruck, found Will Creasey on the charge targeting the Heath centre pairing. Like a knife through butter he made 20 metres before off-loading to Connor Hand to cross over for another Herman converted try.12-14
Having got their noses in front ,Crowborough began to control the narrative, but not before Heathfield had an opportunity to take back the lead. Attacking into the ‘Boro 22, Crowborough were penalised for holding on.
A quick tap that should have resulted in a Heathfield try ,was knocked on. With the quickness of mind Harry Marchesi scooped up the ball and with the tramline empty of defenders , fed Will Pitman, who could not believe his luck and reached the 10 metre line before being scragged to the ground, but he was not held. Back on his feet he put in a grubber into the 22 that was scrambled into touch on the 10 metre line.
Bennett soared once again, and as he came back down to earth there was no defender present. With the line some thirty meters away he set off ,out stripping the first line of cover, and as he was caught, he fed the attending Ed Croft who crossed over to score another Hermann converted try. 12-21HT
A Hermann penalty kept the score board ticking over which Josh Jarvis added too moments later , when he and Marchesi combined to out flank the Heath defence to score out wide for another Hermann converted bonus point try. 12-31
Heathfield narrowed the lead when ‘Boro dropped off a first up tackle, allowing the #6 to pirouette through the defence and sprint 20 metres to score a well converted try 19-31.
This galvanised the home side, and from an attack that was blatantly knocked on but unseen by the official, resulted in another converted home try bringing the score to within 5 point 26-31.
For both sets of supporters this was nail biting time, and a time for pragmatic game management. But no-one told either side. When Heathfield started an attack down their right flank the ball was dropped and Will Piman got a toe to it , and with Ed Croft in attendance and a foot race ensued, with some robust and unnecessary off the ball contact, ending with Pitman bundled into touch , Croft needing treatment and Heathfield awarded a clearance penalty.
Crowborough were trying to close out the match and again attacked the left where a ruck set up an attack ball that was slung right where it reached Josh Jarvis who cut inside to cross over for the score which went unconverted.26-36
As if there had not been enough action, more was to follow. Joe Chapman was the recipient of the officials yellow card. With ‘Boro down to 14 men it was looking ominous when Heathfield crossed over for a converted try to bring the score to a tantalising 33-36 with just minutes to go. As Heathfield could smell blood the official yellow carded Erol Munoz for a high tackle, leaving ‘Boro with just 13 men.
Controversy soon followed when the home side elected for a scrum, but with prop Munoz serving his yellow card , and with Joe Chapman still not allowed back on ,even having served his 10 minutes, an uncontested scrum was envisaged. However the official determined that Munoz should return at the expense of Will Pitman for a contested scrum, which would favour the home side eight! The law book will surely be well thumbed on that one.
The home duly side won the scrum, and moved the ball out wide where the wing crossed over for an unconverted try as the final whistle went bringing the game to, at least for ‘Boro supporters , a disappointing end with the ‘Boro XV ruing just what might have been? 38-36.