Heathfield Ladies duly produced the result that the relative league tables had suggested was likely as they ran in 13 tries against a game but outclassed home side.
At the start of the season Pulborough had lost a number of key players and their management acknowledged that they were essentially in the wrong league. Their players should take heart from their gutsy performance on a difficult day – many, if not most, rugby players have been there and appreciated their efforts.
However Heathfield had a league game to win and duly did so with minimal fuss.
It would not be a proper match report without a mention of Chip Chippett who unluckily suffered a knee issue during the warmup and was replaced by Maya Champion. Chippett went on to provide vocal encouragement and valuable insight from the sidelines.
In the first half the penalty count was against the home side (7-2) and the first of these gave Heathfield a good attacking position. The lineout was duly won and a clinical drive was established to allow Caitlin Flower to charge over for the opening try. Dave went on to have a good all round day with multiple carries and some solid scrummaging.
Megan Plane converted this first try and scored the next try herself as the back row turned over possession at the base of a home scrum and the ball was moved left for a simple finish. Britt Mole collected the next after Champion had followed up a kick ahead to regain possession and quick ball was successfully moved right.
Mole also collected the next at the end of the first quarter following a stomping run by Laura McGee who doesn’t appear to know when she has been tackled, continuing to make ground in spite of multiple people draped around her.
The game now calmed down a little with most play in midfield. In due course skipper Carol Saunders broke down the middle in heavy traffic and a classic 2-on-1 gave Velvet Turner a walk in for the try. Turner had a decent day generally with plenty of useful carries.
The sixth try came from solid lineout ball which was worked wide right and recycled through a couple of phases before a thumping Becky Taylor hand-off allowed Georgia Reed-Davies to touch down.
The half time score of 0-38 was a fair reflection of the game thus far as Pulborough had rarely had any useful possession. The Heathfield set piece was generally solid and managed to disrupt a couple of home lineouts.
In the second half the penalty count was strongly against Heathfield (2-8) but this did not disrupt their dominant performance. The half opened with two tries in two minutes based on good lines of running and delightful off-loading which had coach Dan Suggitt purring with pleasure. Jaz Lewis and Lizzie Suggitt were the scorers.
After a relatively quiet period in midfield, Merve Prestedge scored the next try as she ran back a home kick out of defence outpacing the cover down the left wing. However Pulborough now had one of their better periods with an attack into the right hand corner and Prestedge was binned for some malpractice at the breakdown near her own try line. However Heathfield were able to contain the following attack with a key turnover.
Entering the last quarter Dave scored her second on the day but I failed to note the exact circumstances.
Saunders was now binned for an illegal clearout at a breakdown which briefly left Heathfield with just 13 players. However this proved no handicap as good scrum ball was moved right for Lewis to claim her second try on the day.
In the last few minutes yet another break by McGee provided quick possession for Turner to collect her second try in the game. Scoring was completed by a second try for Plane who then naturally knocked over her eighth conversion on the day.
The home management gave particular mention to their two centres who had little possession to work with and will have had sore shoulders from repeated tackling of the dominant Heathfield attackers.
The Heathfield management struggled to pick out any particular performances as the game had been marked by good support play and unselfish off-loading by all of the squad.
The result apparently leaves Heathfield at the completion of their fixtures with 44 points, just behind Dartford Valley on 45 who still have one game to play. (I have issues with both those figures but life is too short to explain that here.)
Heathfield will take pleasure in the performance of the Harriers today who reportedly secured a 20-20 draw against a combined Eastbourne and Seaford side. Whatever happens in the league arrangements next season the depth of player strength will be a major factor in keeping Heathfield as one of the strongest Ladies clubs in Sussex.