Haywards Heath continue strong start with back to back wins

The loud travelling supporters enjoying the bright sunshine didn’t have to wait long - just 4 minutes - before early pressure on the Police try line told allowing Nick Main, the returning Heath skipper, to drive through tacklers and score from a scrum giving Heath the start everyone wanted and the early lead. Despite this positive start Heath couldn’t get a stranglehold on the game and let the Police back into the match after 20 minutes by conceding a penalty in front of the posts which was converted to take the score to 5-3.

But Heath persevered and on the half hour mark a break up the right by Heath put Police under pressure and a pass back inside to Matt Duncan allowed the winger to speed in from outside the 22 and score. Robbie Fotheringham kicked the conversion to make it 12-3. This was the start of a 10 minute purple patch for Heath in which they clinically put the game beyond the reach of the Police. From the restart Jack Lucas picked up the ball on his own 10 yard line and carved through the defence to score a good solo try which was converted to make the lead 19-3. The Heath pack was now well on top at both scrum and breakdown with sustained drives by the forwards piling the pressure on the opposition leading to a bullocking run and score from Euan Grieves-Smith .

At 26-3 down Police kicked off with renewed determination and moved deep into the Heath half trying to use their big runners in midfield. Heath defended manfully and from deep in their own territory managed to contrive an opening that led to the best try of the game. Instead of kicking for the predictable safety of touch Fotheringham saw space wide right and his cleverly weighted kick bounced just outside the 22 where it was gathered in by Lucas, fed inside to Duncan who drew the defence and passed to the supporting Fotheringham to go under the posts and score a try which he then converted.

The half time score of 33-3 meant the large contingent of travelling Heath supporters of all ages were thoroughly enjoying the rugby on show and the buzz from plenty of try scoring action. With a big squad to cover injuries and maintain tempo on another warm afternoon, Heath started to use their bench in the second half. However Sussex Police didn’t wilt under the onslaught and it took a little while before Heath were able to settle back into the match and add to their points total. An attack to the left of the posts led to a leg pumping surge from Man of the Match Jack Lucas who was driven over by the forwards for his second try and Heath’s sixth. At 38-3, further pressure from the Heath pack on the Police line led to Tim Hartley scoring from a short range pick and go which Fotheringham converted taking his personal points tally for the game to 15. However as in the previous week’s game Heath lost a bit of concentration and conceded a soft try to a Police side who were determined not to rollover pulling the score back to 45-10.

Heath were immediately back on the front foot and finished the game with a flourish - Joss Townsend capping a fine match with a powerful run breaking through the Police tacklers to touch down and score. The final score of 50-10 to Heath was a result that secured consecutive away wins and leaves the team top of the table and eagerly looking forward to their first home game of the season next week. The match against Eastbourne kicks off at Whiteman’s Green at 3pm and a big crowd is expected as the quest for promotion continues.