Haywards Heath 42, Hellingly 7: Different line-up but Heath still triumph

A freshly dressed pitch and a drying wind meant that Heath were playing on the best home surface for some months and they were able to take advantage of conditions against a big Hellingly side .

After only 5 minutes a scrum deep in Hellingly territory saw Heath quickly on the front foot to release the back division and a great supporting angle from full back Jack Best saw him score the opening try which was converted by Peter Kerins for 7-0.

Heath’s speed around the park and clinical ball retention by the forwards saw Hellingly struggle to get into the game and there was some inevitability about the next score which saw a good kick chase recycle the ball for inside centre Wilf Bridges to run a powerful line to score under the posts . Kerins fired the ball through the sticks for 14 -0 .

The home side were back on the board again in fairly quick time as winger Ali Fraser cut in from the left to score another converted try with just over 20 minutes gone . Hellingly responded well from this set back and showed why they are a top half of the table side with some powerful driving from their forwards and some decent possession in the Heath half . However the home defence held up well with the pack tackling the big runners Hellingly sent round the fringes and holding them at bay until half time.

The second half saw Heath step up a gear and take the game right away from Hellingly through a combination of quick work at the breakdown and fast hands down the three quarters keeping the ball out of the reach of the the opposition forwards . Three tries in a classy performance from Heath veteran March Cashman at outside centre put the match to bed with his powerful scything runs proving unstoppable for the Hellingly defensive line. The metronomic Kerins converted all three to take maximum points.

A consolation try for Hellingly was no more than they deserved after sticking to their task but at the final whistle it was another bonus point win for Heath with a final score of 42- 7.

Heath are now some way clear of the third placed team in the league and looking forward to a play off place against the runners up of Kent 1 in order to move up to the London & SE league for next season. Heath’s next game is away to Seaford on Saturday 2nd April.

Heath team: Karl Wicking; Patrick Sandys-Renton; Joss Townsend (Martin McDonagh); Hugh Erritt; Dan Fergusson; Chris Neill; Scott Day; Huw Jenkins; Brett Menefy; Peter Kerins (Captain);

Ali Fraser (Tim Salisbury); Wilf Bridges (Tyler Edwards); Marc Cashman; Claude Cox; Jack Best.

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