After their heaviest defeat of the season to league leaders Eastbourne last weekend Heath needed to find a way to win at local rivals Crawley to get the second half of their season properly underway.

With the ground drying up and minimal wind, conditions were as good as could be hoped for some decent rugby on a grey January day. It was the home side who were out of the blocks quicker with plenty of possession in the middle of the park although they ultimately could not make much use of it as Heath's defensive set up worked well and kept the Crawley attacks at bay.

On 8 minutes another Crawley attack was turned over and Heath were quick to break from inside their own half and put the ball through hands for outside centre Chris Neill to show a clean pair of heels to the defence and score virtually under the posts. Tom Wharton converted for a 0-7 lead. Not long after the restart Crawley kicked through into the Heath half where the ball was fielded by James Trinder who sensing an opportunity to attack drew the cover to release fly half Wharton who outpaced the would be tacklers for another try and a 0-12 advantage.

Whether taking their mind off the game as a result of taking such an early advantage or just through inaccuracy Heath then proceeded to let Crawley back into the game. The restart was not gathered cleanly allowing the Crawley pack to bulldoze up and over the line for a converted score and 7-12. Worse was to follow as Heath lost a man to the bin for a high tackle and then through failing to compete at the breakdown and missing their tackles saw the Crawley forwards plough up the park before releasing their backs for their second try and 14-12. Heath indiscipline continued and two more yellow cards over the course of 15 minutes saw Heath playing the rest of the half with 13 and then 14 men.
The mismatch in numbers was well exploited by Crawley and they went over again for a half time score of 21-12.

The last 20 minutes of the half were as poor as Heath have played all season and they needed a reaction in the second half if they were to take anything from the game. Heath had been on top in the lineouts for most of the game and now started to turn the screw at scrum time. A penalty kicked to the corners saw a line out from where Heath mauled and broke up to the Crawley line . The ball was quickly recycled right where more forward pressure stretched the Crawley defence allowing captain Wilf Bridges to burrow over in the corner for 21-17.

Heath were now in the ascendancy and only desperate Crawley tackling was keeping the red and black tide at bay. A series of scrum penalties were won by Heath and a break off the back of one of those scrums saw Bridges over for his second of the day. Wharton struck the kick through the uprights which saw a 21-24 margin in the visitors favour. With ten minutes remaining Crawley managed to get a bit of possession in the visitors territory and when Heath infringed at the breakdown the home kicker, who had been on the mark all day slotted the three points for 24-24 going in to the last few minutes of the game.

With 5 minutes remaining Heath worked their way deep into the Crawley 22 where a blindside break was turned over and Crawley tried to play out but were stopped in front of their own posts and conceded the penalty. Wharton coolly chipped the kick through the posts for 24-27 with 3 minutes remaining. Crawley came steaming back and played the last couple of minutes in the Heath 22. A penalty was kicked to the corner and it was clear the plan was to try and maul for the score. However second row Henry Dickson leapt highest and took the ball for Heath and it was kicked out of play for the final whistle. This was a scrappy match with not a great deal of skill on display. Heath will be pleased with a bonus point win but there is still a lot to do on the training pitch if they are to step up in 2023.Next week sees Heath travel to Burgess Hill for the rearranged game that was postponed due to waterlogging.

Heath Squad:
Euan Greaves- Smith; Jack Herbert; Seb Broster; Ellis Dubois; Dan Shotton; Jack Bull; Fraser Russell; Wilf Bridges (capt); Charlie Richardson; Tom Wharton; Matt Cains; James Trinder; Chris Neill; Mitch Day; Samuela Bulitkavale-Lancaster; Harry Edwards; Sam Walker; Henry Dickson;