Heathfield secured a decisive three try win over the only team to have beaten them this season in this absorbing NC1 league match between two well-matched sides. To extend an old cliché this was a game of four quarters – Heathfield dominated the first 20, Medway the second, then Heathfield the third period which included all of the scoring before Medway had the better of the last quarter.
Conditions were good for the time of year with no wind and a dry but claggy surface.
Heathfield played up the slight slope and had the better of the first quarter without ever being in complete control. It was soon noticeable that the visitors lacked a kicker which is a common but serious lacuna for a womens’ rugby team.
After about 10 minutes pressure into the left hand corner resulted in a tap penalty on the visitors' 5m line which looked promising but the handling broke down.
The penalty count in the first half was unusually high with 10 against Medway and 7 against the home side. Early on the referee was very strict on not release in the tackle and it took a while for players to adapt.
Entering the second quarter Medway managed to break out into the home half through some good handling down the left hand touchline. One run by their pacy left wing Sydnee Cowell looked threatening but was snuffed out by a fine cover tackle by Megan Plane.
Medway generally retained their position in the home half for the rest of the half and had one very dangerous attack into the right hand corner. An attacking lineout was driven on but the home defence did just enough and the ball was adjudged to have been held up.
Neither side was dominating the scrum at this stage while the lineout was messy. Heathfield seemed to me to prefer overcomplicated options early on which mostly went wrong. However as the game developed Medway were reduced to just using their front jumper and Becky Taylor was often successful in at least disrupting this.
In the second half the penalty count was noticeably less although I afterwards heard differing opinions from the respective coaches as to why this happened. I’m not commenting!
The third period opened with several useful tactical kicks out of hand by Plane. Chip Chippett and Sophia Skinner which kept the visitors pinned back in their own half.
After ten minutes in the half good lineout possession in the left hand corner was now worked wide and after some decent handling Jaz Lewis claimed the opening try on the right hand side. Plane converted impressively.
Heathfield kept up the pressure from the restart and a few minutes later Steph Ryan was on the end of some good handling across the pitch to touch down on the left hand side. Plane duly knocked over the even more difficult conversion. (14-0)
From the restart Heathfield reclaimed possession and after useful carries by skipper Carol Saunders and replacement Lauren Duly the ball reached Skinner who had the pace to score from some 30m out. Plane converted – natch!
With hindsight that ten minute period decided the game but to their credit Medway made a real contest of the remaining time. Most of the play was in the home half and they nearly snatched an interception try but a fine tackle back by Chippett saved the day.
Heathfield will have taken particular pleasure from one scrummage where they drove the visitors back 15m before gaining the inevitable penalty.
Heathfield will have been hoping to collect a fourth and bonus point try but the final whistle went as their last despairing attack broke down.
That missed bonus point could yet be significant at the end of the season as Heathfield lie just two points behind Dartford Valley at the top of the table. There have been a couple of other results in this league this season which in horse racing terms would seem to deserve attention by the stewards.
The home coaches were afterwards very appreciative of many players with Plane’s game management being admired along with her remarkable place kicking. Skinner was noted as having one of her best games recently while Chippett had a good all round game and Duly made a big impact when she came on in the second half. Chippett and Duly collected their 50 game caps after the game as a reflection of the increasing depth of experience in the squad.
Heathfield now have a 2 week break before the next league game against Canterbury (8 Feb 2.00)
Team
1. Amber Lovick 2. Steph Ryan 3. Abi Bandtock 4. Velvet Turner 5. Georgia Reed-Davies 6. Laura McGee 7. Rebecca Taylor 8. Carol Saunders 9. Lib Lawrence 10. Megan Plane 11. Meg Baker-Butler 12. Sophia Skinner 13. Chip Chippett 14. Jasmin Lewis 15. Britt Mole
Replacements
16. Freya Gorringe 17 Hannah Overy 18 Toni Norman 19. Lauren Duly 20. Poppy Eacott 21. Phoebe Morgan 22. Merve Prestedge