Bell sets the right tone

Heathfield & Waldron started brightly by punching holes up the middle with their close support play and sucking in defenders to create gaps out wide, and it was from one such phase of play that the home side outflanked the left side of the Horsham defence to create the position for the Heathfield forwards to score under the posts.

Horsham were living off scraps of possession, their cause not being helped by losing the first two line-outs on their own throw, and a rousing speech by forwards coach Barry Hillicks from behind the posts appeared to be the turning point.

It was somewhat against the run of play when Jonathan Whiting went on a charge having secured possession from the back of a loose Heathfield line-out and the ball was spun wide by the three quarters for Will Johnson to create the gap for Jamie Gibbs to score but he could not hold onto the pass. Horsham did not spurn the scoring opportunity a few minutes later when Johnson hit the line at pace following a wide miss pass by Will Bell to step inside his man to score under the posts and Bell converted to level the scores at 7-7.

Horsham were now playing with their tails up and Bell cut inside from the right to jink past two players from twenty-five yards and touch down and then convert his own try.

Gibbs then showed his opportunism when a Heathfield player, in attempting to kick upfield with his opposite man only two yards in from of him, showed tremendous reactions to catch the ball, after juggling with it behind his back, and once under control race in to score, in one of the most unusual tries you will ever see. At half-time Horsham lead 21-7.

Horsham were now able to show their attacking flair and Johnson, who must like playing Heathfield following his man of the match performance the last time he played them in their promotion season a few years ago, capped a fine display when he ran hard from the half way line, sliced through the defence, chipped the covering full back to regather the ball and score a superb solo try.

Although Heathfield pulled a score back, the victory was sealed with further tries as a result of a powerful run from Jonny Ordidge from the half way line through several weak tackles and then Gibbs who cut inside from his right wing following good hands.

Bell was on target with every conversion with the exception of two that hit the posts.

There are areas to work on for Horsham in particular line-outs and fielding restarts but this was an encouraging performance for the Green and Whites against a side used to playing a level of opposition to which Horsham aspire.

The final pre-season friendly is at home to Sanderstead based Old Mid-Whitgiftians on Saturday 7th September.