Steyning Season Starts with Friendly Win

A new season dawns in the heart of the Sussex countryside with Steyning Rugby Club taking on a mixed Heathfield team. Being played under blue skies and warm sunshine, Steyning started the game strongly with captain Tom Hoare making a powerful carry to set up some strong forwards play and assert some early dominance deep in the Heathfield half.

Despite this early pressure the first points came from the opposition. After some staunch defence and perhaps some ill discipline, a quick break and chip over the top of the Steyning back line set up an early try under the posts. This was subsequently converted and the score was 0-7. The reaction of Steyning was positive and once again another period of sustained pressure began to take its toll on the Heathfield defence. In what became the theme of the game, the first run out of the season lead to some expected miscommunication and lapses of concentration that allowed Heathfield to go unpunished for most of the first half.

The break came for Steyning close to the 30 minute mark, with Benjamin Midgley eventually crossing the line after some belligerent forward play. The conversion was made and the score was 7-7. From this point confidence began to grow and after a couple of substitutions Matthew Hodson crossed the line in classic head down fashion, making the score 14-7 after another conversion. Steyning continued to show some sparks of brilliance with Alex Bishop and David Neale both putting in good runs and physical defence when called upon. With half time approaching and more substitutions made, the game began to break down a little so when the whistle went it was a welcome relief for most to catch some oxygen. Half time brought about some more changes for both teams and only through injury the scrums had to go uncontested. This took away an advantage for Steyning but would lead to some intricate backs play later in the game.

The next score of the game came off the back of a scrum. After noticing the space, Matt Laker fed the ball to Adam Walkington on the blindside wing and after some silky footwork he touched ball down in the corner. A good reward after a strong performance all game for the winger. Heathfield began to grow into the game after half time and managed to exploit some disorganised Steyning defence and score their second try of the game making the score 19-12.

With the score tight and temperature rising, it was only a matter of time before tempers would flare. An ill discipline problem irking Steyning throughout the game eventually led to the Heathfield 10 and Benjamin Midgley both seeing yellow cards for an after the whistle spat and perhaps some needed cool down time. With both teams down a man, and a touch more space on the pitch, Matt Laker found a large enough hole to squeeze through and score Steyning's fourth try of the game. This was swiftly converted and a 14 point lead was established. For the remainder of the yellow card period the game ebbed and flowed with little catching eye apart from some more impressive running for Adam W, Stuart Cotter and Damo Roberts. With fatigue making its way into the legs of both teams, Heathfield found their way into the Steyning half and over the try line for their third and final try of the game.

The final score of the game came in the dying stages with Matt Laker crossing the white wash for his second and Steyning's fifth try of the game. Andrew Whatley converted the try making the full time score 33-19 and rounded off a solid start to the 2nd season of Steyning Rugby. With strong performances all over the park it was difficult to find one man of the match, however after a very impressive debut David Neale scooped up the award with Benjamin Midgley receiving an appropriate dick of the day for his little indiscretion.

A special mention should be made to Pulborough who filled in some of the numbers for Heathfield and to Tim Laker for making his way over to the opposition for 40 minutes. Thanks to everyone who came along and enjoyed the rugby in the sun. Steyning move on to St Francis next weekend and the start of the league campaign.