Bromley RFC VS Heathfield & Waldron RFC

BROMLEY WIN IN TOP OF THE TABLE CLASH BUT IT WAS A BIT OF A STRUGGLE

On Saturday Bromley entertained Heathfield and Waldron in a second versus third top of the table clash. Both teams have been in good form in recent weeks so a close encounter was expected and that is what was delivered. The only change for Bromley from last week was McFarlane replacing Banfield. The first twenty minutes or so were nip and tuck with both defences unyielding and not much in terms of space to develop attacks. The away side had the better of the first ten minutes keeping the home team in their half and had a couple of half chances to get on the scoreboard but these were snuffed out. Slowly Bromley began to emerge from their shell and started to pose a few questions of their own. On fifteen minutes they broke up the left hand side of the pitch but a potential try scoring pass was dropped and this was a bit symptomatic of the frantic nature of the play by both sides when a bit more composure was called for.

Finally, on twenty five minutes, a bit of quality. Heathfield and Waldron turned over a Bromley lineout and the ball was kicked clear. It was picked up by George Hawkins who careered past a couple of would be tacklers and then attempted an ambitious kick pass which winger Pillow plucked out of the air, rounded his opposite number and left other defenders in his wake to score an excellent try wide right. Magnificent conversion from Johnny Griffiths and it was 7-0. Don’t relax after you score. Bromley relaxed and Heathfield and Waldron were all over them with sustained driving play edging them towards the try line and Walter (George that is) crashed over and with a very good conversion it was 7-7 after twenty eight minutes. This stung Bromley into action and they played their best rugby of the game leading up to half time.

From the kick off, they established themselves in and around the opposition twenty two and used their forwards to bash holes with a series of punishing pick and goes. Eventually, the backs were released and Hawkins cut a line towards the posts. He was supported by the excellent captain Brown who crashed over the line for a very well worked converted try. Just before halftime Bromley launched another devastating attack. Pillow made a fantastic catch from a clearing kick and he passed long to Hawkins and the backs were set in motion to create a hole for James Powell to burst through and scorch over for an outstanding try. No conversion as the attempt fell just short. Half time 19-7 to Bromley who would turn around  to play down the slope. So a position of strength with the prospect of extending their lead and take the game. Think again.

For approximately the first thirty minutes of this period, they hardly got out of their half due to a combination of factors. Heathfield and Waldron started the half at a fair old lick believing rightly that the best form of defence is attack and had Bromley on red alert all over the pitch. Combine that with the Bromley curse the penalty and alarm bells were ringing. In the first half Bromley gave away two penalties and in the second around thirteen mainly at the breakdown and the occasional offside. Add into the mix other aspects of their play were malfunctioning and it was a recipe for trouble and it duly arrived. After a couple of team warnings for the home side, Godden was yellow carded on fifty five minutes for some offence or other. He was swiftly followed by another Bromley player and they were down to thirteen. Same scenario as the Canterbury game. As I said before you simply cannot give teams a two man advantage and not expect to pay a price.

All credit to Heathfield as they used the opportunity to work themselves into a winning position. On sixty two minutes after a concerted attack Irwin scored near the posts for a converted try and five minutes later they surged up the field again and went through a number of phases ending with Plumley scoring. This was converted and suddenly the away side were in the lead 19-21 and with everything going their way they looked good for the win and the bonus point. However, Bromley are a very dogged side and were not for rolling over without a fight. Back up to fifteen, getting over feeling hard done by from the number of decisions given against them they rolled up their sleeves and mounted an onslaught. The set pieces started producing plenty of ball, a couple of penalties gave them field position and it was well and truly game on.

On seventy minutes the forwards had control of the ball in Heathfield’s twenty two and they exerted enormous pressure ending with Godden blasting through a fractured defence to score left of the posts for a converted try. Bromley ahead 26-21. The next ten minutes or so were frenetic with both sides going for the win but the home team were now playing with much more assurance and picking the right options to keep their opponents on the back foot. Deep into injury time, and there was plenty of it, Bromley sealed the deal with a quite super try. They were awarded a scrum near the half way line and put in a punishing shove which had the away sides pack all over the place and behold a penalty was awarded to them. This was kicked towards the corner. Lineout won, the pack drove hard for the line but came up short, The ball swiftly recycled to the backs and a long pass delivered to young winger Joey Richardson. Like all good joeys he skipped past his man and hopped and bounded over the line for an excellent score. There were still two minutes to play and Heathfield went looking for the bonus point but Bromley were miserly and hoofed the ball off the park around the ninety minute mark. Win 31-21.

This was a fiercely contested game between two good sides and it could have gone either way but Bromley came on strong at the end to edge it. I do not know who was picked as man of the match but mine would be George Hawkins who gave a masterclass in defence and attack. The pack can be pleased with most of their work but the malfunctions exposed today need work. The backs were all very good and created their opportunities with skill and precision. George Rice deserves mention for his all round play in particular his passing which created openings for others. Next week is another toughie for the firsts away to Crowborough.

Elsewhere the seconds travelled down to Faversham who are riding high in Kent Four. Although they fought hard they encountered a very muscular home side and went down 41-19. Another learning curve. Over in Dulwich, the buccaneering thirds were matched against Kings College Hospital Seconds. The threes have been pretty free scoring of late and carried on their fine form with a 12-71 win. Next Saturday the seconds are at home to Medway Thirds and the threes have a very difficult home fixture against Blackheath Thirds.