Late tries hit Greenies

OLD DUNSTONIANS 25

HEATHFIELD 3

London 2 South East

HEATHFIELD and Waldron eventually lost a close game to Old Dunstonians with the home team scoring two late tries to decide the contest.

After early frenetic exchanges, with play flowing all over the pitch, the home forwards made good ground from repeated drives and after 10 minutes produced quick ruck ball with which they capitalised on the extra man wide on their left flank for the opening score: 5-0.

However, Heathfield were very much in the game and Bryn Jones was making good ground with kicking out of hand. Steve Petersen started at number eight for a change and was a worthy man-of-the-match in all phases.

Jo Wood had one long-range penalty attempt drift wide, but otherwise Heathfield had decent possession without establishing consistent pressure on the home try line.

The second half started with a period of Heathfield dominance as the pack drove forward and produced a Wood penalty, with the game clearly in the balance: 5-3.

Good positional kicking was giving the home team positions from which to attack; with an effective line-out, they were able to build pressure on the visitors.

As the game entered the final quarter, this resulted in a period of play near the Heathfield try line and the home fly-half took the brave decision to go on his own from a tap penalty and burrowed under tacklers for a critical score, again not converted: 10-3.

A few minutes later, a penalty – by a different kicker – took the home team into a 10-point lead, potentially denying Heathfield a losing bonus point: 13-3.

Heathfield were now focused on finding a score to restore the bonus point, but the home team were equally interested in bonus points and scored two tries in the last few minutes.

The mature home front row had been under pressure and now Heathfield turned over two successive scrums. However, Old Ds secured one decent scrummage and a blindside move gave them a well-taken try: 18-3.

Heathfield now attempted to run out of defence, but pressure resulted in a turnover and the home right-winger, dangerous all game, collected a chip ahead for a simple but deserved try: 25-3.

Heathfield's next league game, on January 28, is at home to Lewes, (kick-off 2.15pm).

HOVE III 33

HEATHFIELD II 10

Sussex Intermediate

HEATHFIELD'S seconds had decent expectations after a good result last week, but the reality was disappointing.

Despite many changes, Heathfield took to the field in positive fashion and although under pressure, playing uphill from the kick-off, competed well.

Hove opened the scoring with a converted try from a quickly taken tap-penalty.

Heathfield came back and, following a number of surging drives, were awarded a penalty which scrum-half Mike Jacques used quickly to touch down: 7-5.

Brother Chris Jacques and David Bayly featured in some constructive play, but a series of wrong options saw the visitors concede a line-out 10 metres out, from which the home team collected another try. A penalty conceded for going over the top made the score 17-5, and if it had stayed like that until half-time, Heathfield could still have been in the game.

However, they were adjusting to positional changes, following a blood replacement, when Hove exploited a chip over the top to turn round 22-5 up.

They scored two more tries to make the score 33-5, but Heathfield did manage a last riposte when Chris Ambrosino and Greg Kneller worked a short line-out routine, which finished the scoring.