It might have been nerves at the prospect of winning the title, tiredness during the last league game of the season away at Shoreham or the strength of the opposition but somehow Heath 1st XV managed to compose themselves towards the end of the match to secure the two bonus points needed to clinch the league title and snatch it from the hands of Saturday’s opponents. It wasn’t pretty to watch but it was nothing less than Heath deserved for some great committed rugby all season with a squad that is an essential blend of youth and experience and will only go on to improve next season.

The first ten minutes of the game saw Shoreham camped in the visitor’s half and although Heath put up a strong resistance to the immense pressure from the home side, it was no surprise when Shoreham broke through to score the first try, missing the conversion to take a 5-0 lead. Heath responded with some strong rugby of their own as the forwards showed their trademark speed and strength and with William Galbraith-Gibbons looking set to score under the posts he was taken out by a high tackle, resulting in a penalty try and a 5-7 scoreline.

The remainder of the first period saw some combative rugby from both sides with Heath scrum half Jamie Thurston breaking through Shoreham’s defence to score an unconverted try that left the match standing at 5-12 to Heath at half time.

Shoreham started the second half with determination and focus, something Heath had lost as they conceded two tries in succession, both of which were converted as the home side took the lead and control at 19-12. Heath regrouped and Jack Lucas made a strong run for the line, scoring for the visitors but the try went unconverted meaning Heath was still trailing at 19-17. Things were getting tense on both sides.

Despite a renewed energy from Heath, in this see-saw match Shoreham scored next and an easy conversion meant the score moved to 26-17 and at this point the home side had the league title in their hands. But the visitors were not yet done and nor were their title hopes as Christian Streater scored a signature try for Heath to secure a try bonus point and the conversion meant that the score stood at 26-24 during the final 10 minutes of the match. It could still go either way however when Shoreham won a penalty as Heath transgressed they opted to kick for the posts to take the score to 29-24. The restart was tense but Heath defended strongly and snuffed out any remaining Shoreham pressure and so it remained 29-24 at the full time whistle meaning Heath had secured a losing bonus point as well as a four try bonus point and in doing do had won the Counties 2 Sussex league by just one point.

With a fantastic new Clubhouse emerging at Whitemans Green, rugby on and off the pitch is looking bright for Haywards Heath RFC next season. There remains a home fixture against Old Haileyburians in the Papa Johns Community Cup at Whitemans Green on Saturday 13 April – kick off at 3pm. Anyone interested in finding out more about senior rugby at Heath and pre-season training this coming summer should contact rugby@hhrfc.co.uk.

Capping off a brilliant season for the Club, both the Heath Under 16s and the Colts are in the finals of their respective Sussex Cups on Sunday 21 April at Brighton RFC – the first of the two matches kicking off at 12.30pm.

Heath 1st XV squad: Euan Greaves- Smith; Will Purdy; James Fleming; Dan Shotton; Charlie Fenwick; Ellis Dubois; Wilf Bridges [capt]; Lewis Goodall; Jamie Thurston; Christian Streater; Matt Cains; Jack Lucas; William Galbraith-Gibbons; Oli Simpson; Tom Wharton; Elliot Higgin; Chris Neil; Tom Bishop

See action photos by Warwick Baker HERE