Susssex All Blacks secure Play-Off spot with dominant display

Needing 1 league point from a possible 5 to guarantee a play off spot, the men in black looked ready for the occasion in the warm up.

From the kick off the Sussex All Blacks dominated all facets of play. Their scrum was destroying the Chi pack and in the lose the forwards and especially the back row of Adam Rez, Connor Chatfield and Dave Wattam were terrorising the Chi defence. In the back line, Massimo Hiller at scrum half was feeding the back line with plenty of quality ball where the centre pairing of Jordan Sayers and Luke Mortell were making great ground with the ball in hand.

At the 20 minute mark the All Blacks were 16-0 up courtesy of a Mortell try and 1 conversion and 3 penalties from fly half Rhys Clarke.

The next score came following a 5 metre scrum where the black pack drove the Chi pack over the line where Wattam dotted down for the converted score, 23-0.

At the 30 minute Mark the All Blacks rolled 2 changes bringing on their own David and Goliath, namely Sam David t scrum half and 20 stone, 6ft 4 second row Cris Leahy.

These changes had an immediate impact. After a break by the backs that saw Sayers sprint 40 metres up the wing he passed inside to David who scored the converted try. Minutes later another break by the backs this time by full back Owain Jenkins saw David pop up on the outside to canter in again for the converted score to end the half 37-0 to the men in black.

The next 40 minutes were the most ruthless the All Blacks have played all season as the gave a master class in attacking rugby scoring 8 further trys 6 of which were converted.

Second row Tim Daniel scored 2 identical trys within minutes of each other. Following breaks by the backs at rucks 5 metres out he picked up and powered over the line. Mortell completed his hatrick with 2 further trys both from inside passes from the wingers MiKe Jennings and Anthony Baldwin.

Hiller came back onto the pitch for Jennings at 60 minutes and was unlucky not to get on the score sheet after showing great pace and footwork.

The next 3 scores were arguably some of the best of the day. First Leahy powered through 4 players before crashing over the line.

Next following a lineout on the Chi 22, prop Paul Hasib drove the maul on and over the line like a tractor driver in a ploughing competition. Finally following an outrageous cross field kick from captain and hooker Ben Dewey Baldwin gleefully collected for the score.

At 84-0 down Chi showed some gamesmanship when their fly half kicked a 40 metre drop goal.

The All Blacks response was to collect the ball at the restart where Rez ran on before passing to Wattam who scored his second.

With a final score of 89-3 scoring 12 trys, 10 conversions and 3 penalties this was the biggest win of the season for the Sussex All Blacks.

The All Blacks having finished 2nd will now play 2nd in Kent 1 on Saturday 25th April at home for a spot in London South East Division 3 next season.

Before then they have the Sussex Shield final this Saturday at Lewes RFC vs Sussex Medics.

With 3 senior team out on Saturday including 7 debutants things are going well at BHRFC.

Anyone wanting to play for the Sussex All Blacks should contact Director of Rugby Ross Hallifax on 07941016836 or email [email protected]