Heath V Cranleigh

With weather more like summer, the Heath U16 squad produced a great performance at home against Cranleigh RFC to come away with a hard fought 17-10 win in what was a close game with very little to choose between the two teams.

In a repeat of last season against the same opposition, Heath started slowly with rather passive rucking, tackling and slow line speed in defence allowing Cranleigh to strike first and go 5 up. However, Heath slowly started to come back into the game and a well worked play from the backs was expertly finished off by Liam Macaulay to make the two teams even. Winger Elliott Fowler then repeated the exercise with a similar well worked try in the opposite corner and after repeatedly repelling Cranleigh with some solid defence at the end of the half, Heath went in at half time with a slender 10-5 lead.

Unfortunately, after changes made at half time, it took some time for Heath to re-settle and so it was Cranleigh who started stronger in the second half, promptly levelling the scores at 10-10. With their heads up, they began applying more pressure and it was looking like Heath might succumb when a sharp break from Thomas Wharton and an expertly taken volley that would have made Messi proud, was grabbed by Oliver Owens who showed impressive pace to run in the score from about 30 metres. Thomas Wharton delivered some further footballing skills to slot over the conversion and the score was 17-10 to Heath.

The play then went from end to end with Cranleigh looking for an opportunity to even the score and Heath looking to create some daylight between the two sides. However, it was Heath who was able to see the game home safely by camping in the Cranleigh 22 for the last 5 minutes or so.

Another excellent win for the Heath boys who all put in a hard shift, particularly with a number of injuries and several of them playing out of position. Man of the Match goes to Oliver Owens who tackled superbly, won a number of turnovers and who, despite normally playing in the back row, produced a commanding performance in the centre which he capped off with an exciting try.

The coaches are looking forward to seeing the boys carry that momentum into next week's match against Lewes.