Haywards Heath’s rich vein of form continues to deliver results

During the opening minutes things did not look good as Heath were caught napping, failed to gather from the kick off and allowed the Newick number 12, Ross Kiley, to storm through and score.

Although the conversion was missed, Newick piled on the pressure with an almost immediate penalty kick taking the score to 8-0 to Newick with just ten minutes gone. It was now up to Heath to respond positively and after some good work from the pack, the Heath hooker Duncan Liddell crossed the try line from close range with Fotheringham adding the conversion to bring the scores close at 8-7. However it soon became clear that this was going to be an end to end encounter on another warm October afternoon as Newick were awarded another penalty within kicking range and took advantage making the score 11-7.

A quick regroup amongst the Heath players looked to focus their minds as the backs moved forward with pace, switching play to Jack Lucas who kicked through, collected the ball and went over to score a much-needed settler for the team. Another conversion took the score to 11-14 and following another incisive break by Nick Miller, a Heath penalty meant that at half time the score stood at 11-17 to Heath.

At half time Dave Grimley joined the forwards bringing fresh legs to the pack but Newick kept up the pressure taking advantage of another penalty to add to their points tally and bring them back closer 14-17.

It was time for Heath to make its strength tell so when a quick break from veteran Alex Meredith was finished off by Jamie Dingle for another well-worked try, a swift conversion meant that Heath was keeping the scoreboard ticking over in the right direction and moved into a 14-24 lead. Tempers were beginning to fray amongst the opposition who were competing strongly but unable to turn their opportunities into points.

Their frustration was compounded when Heath stole a Newick lineout and ensuring a quick exchange of passes between Tim Hartley, back playing scrum half, and Jack Lucas led to another Heath try with the added conversion making the score 14-31, giving Heath a now healthy lead.

But Newick were determined to keep pressing and their fly half Adam Davies almost went over to score in the left hand corner, only to be disallowed by the touch line. This alerted Heath to the need to keep on the offensive so a quick break from Robbie Fotheringham was finished off by Jamie Dingle scoring his second try of the match and the conversion made the score 14-38. The Heath scrum had been strong all afternoon and when they used their superior strength to win one against the head, the pack demonstrated some excellent handling to allow Tom Burns to score in the corner. With the conversion dropping just short of the posts, the extra five points made it 14-43.

Heath was not yet finished and a final flourish from the boot of Fotheringham with a wonderful kick through that was gathered in style and taken over the try line by Jack Lucas made the final score to 14-48 and gave Heath another well-deserved away win. It was an excellent match where both sides had their share of scoring opportunities, Heath taking theirs in the second half with a clinical execution that comes with a confident team. Nick Main, the Heath captain, was awarded man of the match as he steered his troops through a fast-paced encounter that leaves Heath top of the league and facing Bognor 2 at Whiteman’s Green next Saturday, with an earlier 2.30pm kick-off a big crowd is expected.