Heathfield 46 Ashford 7
Our normally reliable snapper had some issues today so apologies for the non-existent photo coverage.
After five losing (and frustrating) bonus points thus far in the season, Heathfield finally produced the performance that they had been promising with an eight tries to one win over normally close competitors Ashford.
The game had been in doubt because of recent heavy rain. While the pitch outside the Heathfield clubhouse remained waterlogged, the Wilson-Rhodes pitch provided a mostly decent surface, albeit with some areas that Irish racing people would call yielding - boggy to you and me but see the pic.
Heathfield successfully followed up the initial kick off and kept Ashford in their own half. Soon a scrum provided the sort of scrappy ball which scrum half Ben Irwin thrives on and a couple of wriggles and a chip ahead later he regathered the ball for a fine solo score on the left hand side.
A few minutes later solid lineout ball was carried on well through several phases and in due course Jo Lewis worked his way over under the posts, duly converted by Toby Simpson. (12-0) Lewis was noted with multiple useful carries throughout – apart from his photo bomb of my perfectly decent pic of the mud.
Heathfield seemed to be the livelier team at this stage which may well be down to most of the team having played in the excellent Gaffney Charity match the previous week which will have burned off the Christmas excesses.
The penalty count was rising against the visitors so it was no surprise when their left winger was binned approaching the end of the first quarter. Heathfield immediately benefitted from the extra man as a penalty gave them good field position and solid lineout ball was moved wide right for Simpson to make important yards before finding Harry Slinnhawkins who finished well in the corner.
Even though three tries down Ashford continued to play some decent rugby, albeit mainly on the counterattack. However the home defence was in particularly unforgiving mood today and the visitors rarely reached the home half.
Near the end of the half Jem Macvicker was binned for a high tackle. Today’s referee was more effective and consistent in implementing this year’s change in tackle height than most that we have seen.
Ashford took heart from this and finished the half strongly. Eventually they exploited an attacking scrum for a try from short range, converted for a half time score of 17-7.
Games between these two sides have normally been close in recent years so there was some concern in the home camp that an apparently good position might be overturned. The set piece was even but Heathfield were obtaining majority possession and probably edging the breakdown with Tom Cornwall being effective as ever in that phase.
Heathfield survived the remainder of Macvickers’ enforced rest without further damage. Then Heathfield spoiled a visitors’ defensive lineout and Dylan Eames made a huge charge through multiple bodies for a fine try, securing at least the try bonus point.
From the restart Eames again made useful yards to put his side on the front foot and quick ruck ball was worked left for Jay Massey-Taylor to finish emphatically.
With half an hour left and a score line of 29-7 Ashford were faced with a daunting situation. They never buckled but the referee’s impressive graphical reports on his handheld later showed they reached the home 22 just once in the second half.
Heathfield were threatening to cut loose and quick ruck ball gave Slinnhawkins a little room which he duly exploited but his probably scoring pass to Simpson was botched.
The sixth home try came approaching the last quarter as a tap penalty was worked through several hands before Massey-Taylor collected his second try on the day. The visitors scrum half was now binned – probably for a high tackle.
The game was increasingly breaking up with breaks in both directions. Macvicker made one especially dangerous run before being hauled down by the cover.
The imbalance in numbers helped Heathfield to keep the pressure on the visitors. With about ten minutes remaining Ashford probably thought they had secured the ball in a ruck on their own try line but Cornwall was lurking and dived in to touch down while the visitors were deciding what to do – harsh but absolutely right! (41-7)
Just as I was running out of paper to record events, Ashford were further handicapped by a yellow for a deliberate knock on. Now facing 13 opponents it was no surprise when Heathfield collected their eighth try on the day when good support play finally saw Tom Tingley claim a deserved try to add to his many strong carries on the day.
The result lifts Heathfield above Ashford in the crowded lower half of this very competitive league.
The Ashford coach afterwards mentioned their second row Sam Haddleton for his efforts as well as their livewire outside centre Harvard Fitzmaurice who will certainly have better days.
The home coaches were obviously pleased with the outcome. Apart from Tingley, they gave particular mention to Irwin and Ollie Tooke. Tooke has moved to hooker recently and appears to be increasingly effective there while remaining a very handy ball carrier.
Next week Heathfield make the challenging trip to Canterbury to play the unbeaten league leaders who have collected a try bonus point in every game bar one this season (13 Dec 2.00)