Heathfield and Waldron RFC VS Bromley RFC

AW FOR BROMLEY AT HW

Bromley and a large band of their supporters travelled to Heathfield and Waldron on Saturday knowing that a win would secure the league title and still with three games to play. They also were aware that the home side had a really good win the week before against a Cranbrook side who had pushed them to the limit n the two fixtures between the clubs. It was a grey cold day with a stiff wind blowing diagonally towards the clubhouse end and conditions underfoot were not great. It was obvious that whoever had the advantage of the wind would control the territory. Bromley had this in the first half and were soon on the front foot probing for openings. After five minutes in trying to clear their lines two of the Heathfield players ran into each other and from the resultant penalty fly half Griffiths confidently knocked it over to settle the nerves. However straight from the restart Heathfield exerted pressure resulting in Bromley being penalised for not rolling away and this was kicked. 3-3 after eight minutes. Both teams went at it after this for about twenty minutes but the away side were hampered by malfunctions in their set pieces resulting in promising positions being negated by not being able to secure the ball properly amid constant harassment by the home side.

On twenty six minutes Bromley made the breakthrough when they turned over a ball in midfield and after clever work by Hawkins and Griffiths the latter slid a lovely grubber kick towards the try line and winger Powell slid in to score near the corner. It was a marginal call as to whether the line had been reached or not but the referee was well positioned to see and he gave it straight away. A difficult conversion was missed but Bromley had the lead and with a few tweaks the set pieces were improving significantly. Going into the second half Heathfield now had the wind and as expected they applied the pressure and on fifty two minutes they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts which was slotted comfortably. 8-6 to Bromley. The game was now afoot with Heathfield and Waldron throwing the kitchen sink at Bromley for fifteen minutes and the league leaders credentials were being questioned. The boys in black and amber showed their mettle to the max with a heroic defensive masterclass shutting down attack after attack and displaying real coolness under pressure. They never really looked like conceding until after a really good passage of play by the home side saw them release their right winger who escaped to leave him one on one with Hawkins at full back. No contest as he was cut down, did not release the ball in the tackle resulting in a penalty to Bromley.

Two minutes later and number ten Griffiths seized on a loose ball and hacked it forty metres downfield which resulted in Bromley, at last, having field position in the opposition half. They made it count by pressuring the home defence leading to a Bromley scrum five metres out. The away side were now dominant in this area and the ball was cleanly won and the forwards laid siege to the line and prop Miles with the silken skills of a ballerina flopped over the line for his second try in two weeks. No conversion but 13-6 to Bromley and a shaft of daylight. The away side were now increasingly in charge of the match and on seventy two minutes, probably for the first time in the game, Bromley produced a really lovely passage of play with the ball being whizzed down the line to Pillow on the wing who was one on one with his opposite number. He kicked the ball towards the in goal area. Big groans and a collective NO from the away support as we all thought it was going dead but young Pillow flew over turf at great speed and got to the ball to score a wonderful try. What do we know on the sidelines as we turned to each other and said great kick.

18-6 to Bromley and they saw out the match camped in Heathfield’s twenty two and they really should have scored a fourth try to seal the victory and claim the bonus point but it was not to be. This match was as difficult as many predicted but Bromley, as they have shown many times this season, are a very difficult team to beat and score against. All the players used today gave everything to the cause and this was a real team effort emphazising the excellent coaching and the togetherness of the squad. Credit to Heathfield and Waldron who gave Bromley a real examination and worked their socks off but in the end came up a bit short. The tree tries scored by Bromley all highlighted some of their strengths. The first individually talented players combining to create a try, the second patient forward pressure delivering the score and the third a real team try with lovely handling in the backs.

This match was played in great spirit with both sides both on and off the pitch having a mutual appreciation for each other. In that context it was a bit surprising to see so many cards issued by the referee. By my reckoning it was a draw 3-3. Bromley possible created history by senior Holland and junior Holland going Dutch and sharing a card each – one on piste and one off piste. Next weekend is huge one at the club. The first team are at home to Pulborough and it is their last league game at Barnet Wood Road this season and it would be great to get a big crowd down there to acknowledge them and their coach as champions. Also on the day is a sold out Presiden’ts Lunch. Unsure what is happening with the seconds and the thirds {thirds won 24-17 at Charlton Park on Saturday}. On Sunday there is the Kent under 11 festival with in excess of forty teams taking part.