Heavy rain had turned to drizzle when the whistle went to start this much anticipated game against Heathfield 3’s in the Sussex Vase. Heathfield had so nearly upset us in the league only a few weeks ago and we were determined not to make the same mistakes again. The boys were in good form and the Channing Tatum poster had moved from last week’s changing room so Scotty was in fine fettle. In fact, Scotty made an early bid for DOTD, with his array of leg implements, which includes him walking up and down the changing room like he is about to have a terrible case of diarrhoea with huge red elastic rubber bands around his legs followed by a funny yellow rolling pin type device with which he rolls his legs? I haven’t yet asked him what this cooking technique is supposed to achieve, but it worked just fine as Scotty had another strong afternoon!

Heathfield started where they left off last match, pinning us back in our 22 for the first quarter of the match, forcing several penalties, one of which was converted to give the Greenies a lead. We couldn’t get our hands on the ball and were slightly fortunate to escape this period only three points down. All this changed when we started to get some ball and go through the fazes, confidence grew, and the points started to come.

Our first score was Swadders, fresh from his mountainous exploits of the week before, legs bulging with new hill walking muscles, bursting through in midfield to score under the posts. Robbie, continuing from last week, scored a scorcher down the right, before Titch danced through for his second of the season (Even when you know it’s coming, that step is still unplayable). It was at this point, that a grave injustice was done, as Marriott, with huge skill, pace, cunning and vigour, scored by far the best try of the match only for the ref to say he had been held up. The resulting 5 yard scrum however was a platform to release Robbie for his second in a beautiful training park move, executed to perfection!

With a healthy lead at the break, we were determined not to take our foot off the pedal like last week, and it wasn’t long before Robo smashed through for his first senior try. Not long later the ball squirted out the side of a ruck for Scotty to scoop it up and dive over for a mirror image of last weeks effort. Another searing break from Robbie teased several would be tacklers before a delightful off-load to the excellent Jordan playing his first game at 9. Still with work to do, the twinkle toed half back waltzed to the line for a much deserved score. Another player picked in a slightly unfamiliar position was Daan playing at 8. He had a wonderful game in attack and defence, holding up a try over the line and stealing the ball at regular intervals like taking candy off a baby. And it was Daan who crashed over for our penultimate try of the afternoon. He wasn’t done yet either as beautiful hands saw the ball in his grasp again, he looked up, saw Robbie out wide, and anticipating the jug he knew Andy Poole would have to buy on his son’s behalf, threw a beautiful 10 yard pass to the sprightly winger who raced over for his hat-trick.

A late conciliation for the Greenies, saw the final whistle go with the scoreboard showing a pleasing 55 - 10. This will mean a trip to Pulborough on the 3rd December for the quarter final.

It was hard to find a weak link in the team and I was delighted to have the referee thank me after the game for an excellent display of discipline, so well done to everyone. However, there could only be one player to deserve the greatest MOM award in club rugby this week and that is Robbie Poole. Three tries, a great assist, brilliant defence and he even gave me a huge chuckle when the ref told him to take off his horrific tights! DOTD was Jordan who started imagining players to pass the ball to later in the game, much to the delight of the hordes of raucous support who thought that panto season had come early.

My thoughts are with Swadders who’s already alarming sized jaw took a hefty knock and according to some of the pics on Fb is now a quite seismic girth - Hope you are OK buddy. A week off for the seconds before our midweek Cambridge game on the 23rd.