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Sat 16 Nov 2024 · Counties 1 Kent
Bromley
1st XV
31
21
Tries: G Walter, B Irwin, A PlumleyConversions: T Simpson (3)
Late Bromley tries deny Heathfield
Philip Bell16 Nov - 21:07
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Bromley 31 Heathfield 21
Heathfield were replaced in second place in the league table by Bromley as a result of this excellent Counties 1 Kent league match. While Bromley were the deserved winners Heathfield will have returned home in the knowledge that this was a game that they could have won. Both Heathfield visits to Barnet Wood Road this season have ended in defeat to late tries.
Conditions were good with no wind and a firm surface with good grass cover. Heathfield played down the slope initially. A fine 50-22 kick by Toby Simpson gave them a good attacking position but the lineout misfired and Bromley moved back upfield where Tom Cornwall was injured in a tackle and had to be replaced. Cornwall is having a fine season and was the league top try scorer to date so his early departure was a serious loss. However he was replaced by Archie Mullen, making his league debut, who fully justified his selection with his scrummaging, lineout work and multiple carries.
Neither side was in control at this stage. Heathfield were looking dangerous with tasty runs by Jay Massey-Taylor and Harry Slinnhawkins but the home defence was just about coping.
The deadlock was broken as the game entered the second quarter by a fine piece of individual skill by Bromley fullback George Hawkins who stepped around a couple of tackles before finding his right winger Steve Pillow who finished well in the top right corner.
Almost immediately Heathfield replied as a penalty gave a good attacking position on the right hand side and after a couple of phases George Walter muscled his way over from short range. Simpson converted to tie the score at 7-7.
Bromley charged back into the left hand corner and Aiden Plumley was now binned for not retreating 10m from a tap penalty. This will have helped Bromley collect two tries in the last few minutes of the half for an interval score of 19-7.
With the slope to come in their favour Bromley will have been optimistic about securing the result. In spite of being significantly outweighted the Heathfield front row were mostly holding their own with due credit to Walter, Mullins and George Hayter. Bromley seem to have problems with their lineout while the visitors were generally secure in this phase.
Ben Irwin now joined the fray, taking over at scrum half with Harry Westgate moving to wing and Liam Dunkley taking a breather – although he soon returned as Will Chambers had to retire hurt.
Heathfield now had a period of pressure on the home try line and the home number 7 Aaron Godden was binned. However Heathfield botched a tap penalty 5m out when the ball wasn’t tapped – doh! More pressure led to another yellow, this time for the home number 11 which was probably fair given the 11 penalties conceded by his side in the second half alone.
With a two man edge Heathfield duly took advantage as another period of pressure ended with Irwin burrowing over from short range. Then some of Heathfield’s best rugby on the day through multiple phases and offloads ended with Plumley touching down and Simpson’s conversion edged Heathfield into the lead at 19-21. The small band of travelling supporters, including some HW Ladies players, were starting to wonder if an unlikely win was possible.
However with ten minutes remaining and Bromley back to full strength they took advantage of a poorly defended ruck to surge into the visitors’ 22 and eventually Godden dived over to retake the lead with their bonus point try.
Heathfield will still have had hopes of collecting at least a losing bonus point which they probably deserved on the day. However two missed touch kicks from penalties allowed Bromley to keep the pressure on the visitors and finally they collected another try in the left hand corner to snuff out even those faint Heathfield hopes and the final whistle went soon afterwards.
At this stage Bromley look the most likely candidates for promotion but with more than half the season to come nothing is certain. Heathfield will certainly look forward to the return fixture in March.
As befitted a match between two of the top sides in the league, this was a quality game with credit to all involved including the referee who was particularly praised by Heathfield captain Lucas Cuming. As well as contributing in the scrummage Hayter was also picked out for his useful contribution with ball in hand although there were plenty of other good performances.
Next week Heathfield entertain Beccehamians who will arrive in good heart after a comfortable win today over Cranbrook. (23 Nov 2.00) The home pitches are looking particularly good at the moment so conditions should be fine for Heathfield who will look to continue their current run of good home results.
Conditions were good with no wind and a firm surface with good grass cover. Heathfield played down the slope initially. A fine 50-22 kick by Toby Simpson gave them a good attacking position but the lineout misfired and Bromley moved back upfield where Tom Cornwall was injured in a tackle and had to be replaced. Cornwall is having a fine season and was the league top try scorer to date so his early departure was a serious loss. However he was replaced by Archie Mullen, making his league debut, who fully justified his selection with his scrummaging, lineout work and multiple carries.
Neither side was in control at this stage. Heathfield were looking dangerous with tasty runs by Jay Massey-Taylor and Harry Slinnhawkins but the home defence was just about coping.
The deadlock was broken as the game entered the second quarter by a fine piece of individual skill by Bromley fullback George Hawkins who stepped around a couple of tackles before finding his right winger Steve Pillow who finished well in the top right corner.
Almost immediately Heathfield replied as a penalty gave a good attacking position on the right hand side and after a couple of phases George Walter muscled his way over from short range. Simpson converted to tie the score at 7-7.
Bromley charged back into the left hand corner and Aiden Plumley was now binned for not retreating 10m from a tap penalty. This will have helped Bromley collect two tries in the last few minutes of the half for an interval score of 19-7.
With the slope to come in their favour Bromley will have been optimistic about securing the result. In spite of being significantly outweighted the Heathfield front row were mostly holding their own with due credit to Walter, Mullins and George Hayter. Bromley seem to have problems with their lineout while the visitors were generally secure in this phase.
Ben Irwin now joined the fray, taking over at scrum half with Harry Westgate moving to wing and Liam Dunkley taking a breather – although he soon returned as Will Chambers had to retire hurt.
Heathfield now had a period of pressure on the home try line and the home number 7 Aaron Godden was binned. However Heathfield botched a tap penalty 5m out when the ball wasn’t tapped – doh! More pressure led to another yellow, this time for the home number 11 which was probably fair given the 11 penalties conceded by his side in the second half alone.
With a two man edge Heathfield duly took advantage as another period of pressure ended with Irwin burrowing over from short range. Then some of Heathfield’s best rugby on the day through multiple phases and offloads ended with Plumley touching down and Simpson’s conversion edged Heathfield into the lead at 19-21. The small band of travelling supporters, including some HW Ladies players, were starting to wonder if an unlikely win was possible.
However with ten minutes remaining and Bromley back to full strength they took advantage of a poorly defended ruck to surge into the visitors’ 22 and eventually Godden dived over to retake the lead with their bonus point try.
Heathfield will still have had hopes of collecting at least a losing bonus point which they probably deserved on the day. However two missed touch kicks from penalties allowed Bromley to keep the pressure on the visitors and finally they collected another try in the left hand corner to snuff out even those faint Heathfield hopes and the final whistle went soon afterwards.
At this stage Bromley look the most likely candidates for promotion but with more than half the season to come nothing is certain. Heathfield will certainly look forward to the return fixture in March.
As befitted a match between two of the top sides in the league, this was a quality game with credit to all involved including the referee who was particularly praised by Heathfield captain Lucas Cuming. As well as contributing in the scrummage Hayter was also picked out for his useful contribution with ball in hand although there were plenty of other good performances.
Next week Heathfield entertain Beccehamians who will arrive in good heart after a comfortable win today over Cranbrook. (23 Nov 2.00) The home pitches are looking particularly good at the moment so conditions should be fine for Heathfield who will look to continue their current run of good home results.
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