H&B sunk in Heathfield's mud

HEATHFIELD 14 HASTINGS & BEXHILL 0 PLAYED - if that s the word - on a quagmire of a pitch that camouflaged all 30 players in brown mud, and made running and handling high risk tactics, this Sussex Division One match was a travesty as a contest.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Dec 2001, 07:24 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 19:40 BST

Though Heathfield s mammoth pack trudged out a victory with a try in each half, in a display of the sort of neanderthal rugby that has almost been forgotten, H&B were neither outplayed nor out-dogged - just outweighed.

The first half was all Heathfield, with just one penalty the cost a try conceded by H&B s determined defence. The second half was all H&B, who had 80 percent of possession, but in trying to force a win slipped up enough to allow the hosts to hack ahead and score the try that sealed the game.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"It was a very frustrating game," said backs coach Rob Hamilton. "I haven t seen such a bad pitch for years. We didn t play badly, we just had to change our game. I m confident that at home - or on any decent pitch - we d beat them."

Tony Roche look good in his first full game at tight head prop for some time, Andy Hitch s 400m credentials stood him in good stead as he alone made light of the boggy surface, and Robin Bradbury at scrum half earned man-of-the-match.

Tomorrow (Saturday) H&B host league leaders Horsham at William Parker, with Warwick Benson and Steve Kimber hopefully back to availability, but Paul Sandeman possibly unavailable. H&B beat Horsham last season, and are hopeful of repeating the treatment.

Related topics:HeathfieldBexhill