The following report was written by Adie ....................

Sussex "Canterbury Jack" Intermediate League

St Francis 19 Heathfield & Waldron II 12

 The rain cleared around Southgate for what was billed to be an exciting encounter between two clubs boasting excellent records so far this season. From the start both sides signalled their intent and, if the first five minutes were anything to go by, the game was going to be a bruising encounter. St Francis were dominating the scrums in the beginning and with Dave Callan proving a nuisance to Heathfield in the lineout, the Frannies backs received plenty of ball.

 Alan McArdle at scrum half marshalled the forwards and backs and it was his link up with Dave Ayres that really got things started as time and time again Frannies visited their opponents twenty-two, but came away with nothing. Saints broke the deadlock when Heathfield gave away a penalty in front of the posts which Callan duly slotted to put the first points on the board. With both defences resolute they snuffed out many of the chances. When presented with another penalty in front of the posts St Francis elected to take the three points again to give themselves a six point lead midway through the half.

 The St Francis backs looked the more inventive when taking the ball on the front foot and many a time Dave Ayres, Murray Stephenson and Tom Bruce made half breaks only to be caught by last ditch tackles. Frannies did not have it all their own way, however, with the direct running Heathfield centre breaching the defensive line occasionally, only for Peter Blake to make his customary last man tackle from full-back. St Francis looked the more likely to score a try and as the half drew to a close Dave Callan took great lineout ball to trundle over the line from five metres and take his and St Francis' points tally to eleven. As the half time whistle blew the St Francis players looked satisfied with the score.

 The second half saw a few changes in personnel as the first half had taken its toll on a couple of the St Francis pack. Heathfield took note of this and in the second half put far more pressure on the Saints scrum which took time to regroup. With the Saints scrum wilting a little under the pressure, Dave Miles at number 8 and Alan McArdle did a great job of releasing the backs with quick ball. It was this quick ball at ruck and scrum that kept Frannies in the game as Heathfield started to get a foothold in the game. Fortunately the St Francis defence was up for the fight, and taking their cue from Murray Stephenson, who tackled everything that moved, St Francis were asking every question posed of them.

 An expansive move leading to Dave Miles showing a clean set of heels to the Heathfield winger gave St Francis the window they needed as they looked to close the game out. Heathfield were not going to lie down, however, and as they gained the ascendancy in the scrum and around the fringes they looked to batter their way through the Saints defence. In a bruising last twenty minutes, Heathfield brought themselves back into the game after they moved the ball quickly from an advancing scrum to score a try close to the posts to bring the score to 16-7. A nervy ten minutes followed and once St Francis were given another penalty about thirty metres out there was only one thing going through their captain's mind. Matt Parish slotted the penalty off the post to give Frannies a bit more breathing space, with Heathfield now needing two converted tries to win the match.

 St Francis held out with very strong defensive play until the last play of the game where a deserved but dubious try was awarded to the visitors to give them a losing bonus point. St Francis were understandably delighted with the result with a number of second team players stepping up into the first team and not looking out of place. With a little more committment St Francis could be looking at another successful season as this result takes them level on points with East Grinstead II at the top of the table.

 Team - Vince McGahan, Adie Perry (captain), Will Arney, Dave Callan, Will Roadnight, Gavin Porter, Steve Hand, Dave Miles, Alan McArdle, Dave Ayres, Shaun Baulk, Tom Bruce, Murray Stephenson, Alper Aydin, Peter Blake, Mick Croissant, Chris Eagle, Matt Parish.