Brave Boars beaten

Boars won the toss and chose to play up the slope. From the kick-off Heathfield ran the ball and Horsham defended strongly. Before the match the Boars had been concerned about the front-row battle at the scrums but were pleasantly surprised when they coped well with their heavier opponents even when pushing upstream!

After an even first ten minutes the Boars began to assert some control and play in their opponent's half.

After 20 minutes a rare moment of wing play saw Jack Bayley make ground up the left, the ball was recycled right and a Horsham player knocked on trying to intercept 15 metres in front of his posts.

Heathfield had a steady scrum and from this platform Cook and Jaques broke and this allowed the latter to dummy past the opposition to score under the posts. Rob Woods kicked the conversion to take the score to 7-0.

At a lineout the referee called the last play of the half and the buoyant Boars went for a 'killer' second score. Sadly this proved an error.

Cook charged deep into the Horsham half then tried to pop a pass to a supporting player but the ball went to ground. A Horsham player put a boot to the ball and it landed on the halfway line. Both Horsham and Heathfield players scurried for the ball, but Horsham got sufficient support there to drive over for a converted try and bring up a half time score of 7-7.

The second half was the same hard slog as the first, with both teams making substitutions as the deep mud sapped the strength and speed from players.

Horsham were playing better this period, with most of the game in the Heathfield half. After 15 minutes they got the break that settled the match. At a scrum on the Boars's right Horsham retained their put in, spun the ball to their right past the centres and out to their winger and the try was conceded.