Brighton Colts Vs Haywards Heath Colts – 23rd April 2023 – Colts Sussex Cup Final

The season closing match for Brighton Colts was the Sussex Cup Final and it was a fitting finale to the year.

The cup final was held at Haywards Heath’s ground as the venue had been selected at the start of the season and not being one to turn down a challenge, Blues faced playing the league champions at their home ground with determination and confidence.

Following a night of heavy rain, the pitch looked in reasonable condition and Blues decided to play up the small slope in the first half.

Heath came out the blocks fast and demonstrated why they are a hard team to beat. They kept the ball well and their effectively drilled forwards’ “pick and drive” proving difficult for Blues to contain. However the improvement in Brighton’s defence has been one of the massive strong points of the season. Time and again Heath drove through and each time a Blue was there to make the tackle.

However it was from a series of pick and drives that Heath breached Brighton’s line out wide for the first score after 7 minutes. The tricky conversion was missed so the score was 5-0 to Heath.

For the next 10 minutes Heath continued to dominate possession but the Brighton tackling was solid across the park.

When Blues had the ball, they looked after it and stopped the Heath jackal which enabled them to make ground. Some powerful drives from Captain Fantastic Walsgrove at 8 and piercing runs from Twinkle Toes Turner-McQueen from 15 were starting to split the Heath defence.

This set up the tone of the match for the next 15 minutes of the half. Both sides attacking fast and hard, but both sides also defending without hesitation, putting body on the line.

A classy show and go from Travis and a breakdown the middle of the park only for a final pass not to go to hand was indicative of play where Brighton showed the large vocal crowd that they were in for a rugby treat.

The match reached half time and the fact there was no further score, felt like a win for the Blues as they now had the slope and could really put the pressure on.

Swapping on 4 subs also gave the team a lift in energy and Brighton started to take the match to Heath.

The Blues pressure started to tell and Heath started to leak penalties. Taking advantage, Brighton kicked for the corner to set up a line out 15m from the Heath line.

Hooker Upton, who’s arrows had been pin point all day long, hit his target and the maul was set. The ball worked efficiently to the back of the maul for Upton to control the drive. This Blues super weapon proved yet again how effective it is and the pack rumbled forward and Upton claimed Brighton’s first try of the day out wide and the score moved to 5-5.

Up steps Rowbotham who has been kicking superbly all season and despite the far out location and the slippery ground, slotted a superb kick to take Blues into the lead 5-7 after 10 mins of the second half.

Whilst this sparked Heath into action, Blues were up to the task and did not miss a tackle.

Heath resorted back to the pick and drive and made ground time and again into Blues territory. This pressure told on Brighton and a couple of penalties meant that Heath were camped on the Blues line for 3 or 4 minutes . Unfortunately Blues picked up a yellow card and Heath took advantage, again picking and driving and eventually scoring in the corner. The conversion missed again but the score moved back in Heaths favour to 10-7 after 18 mins of the half.

The kick off after the score was fielded by Heath and moved wide quickly. A missed tackle and Heath chipped over the top and that damned “bounce of the ball” caught out the blues player chasing back. The Heath player hacked the ball forward and just managed to reach it to score under the posts.

The simple conversion was slotted and the score was 17-7 to Heath with 13 minutes to go.

Blues proved why they deserved their place in the final. They upped the tempo and intensity again and drove hard and broke the Heath defensive line. Solid recycled ball then quickly moved down the line for winger Jewitt to score in the corner. Blues erupted at such a well worked try and the chance to pull the match back.

Yet again the “ice man” Rowbotham stepped up and slotted the extras and the score was 17-14 with 4 minutes to go.

Needing to find a score, one final effort was made and superb runs from Harrison from the base of the ruck, Walsgrove and Turner-McQueen out wide meant the match was on tender-hooks. Brighton pushing Heath more and more and ended up with a line out 15m out from the Heath line.

Unfortunately Heath just got to the jumper and the ball was won but was messy and the well drilled Heath pack pounced and won a turnover at the death. The trusted pick and drive by the Heath pack held the ball and as time ticked over, the scrum half kicked the ball out for the end of the match.

Final score 17-14 to Haywards Heath.

Whilst there was clearly disappointment, what was really telling was that each and every member of the squad held their heads high, proud Brighton Rugby Club players through and though. They put their bodies on the line for their mates and played an absolute cracker of a match.

Coach Upton said:

“This was a final in several ways. The final match many of these boys will play as Colt; the final time I will be coaching this extraordinary group of boys as well as the Colts County Final – and what a way to finish. Across the Squad the lads played out of their skins, putting heart, soul, guts and passion into the match and I thank them for it. Whilst the final result just did not go our way, the manor the match was played will not be forgotten by me or these lads. Many now enter their new phase of rugby life and I wish them well and hope to see them back on the pitch soon.

I conclude by adding that last night, the Club player awards dinner took place and the 3 winners for the Colts this year were:

Most Improved – Fred Tilly

Coaches Player – Zach Harrison

Players Player – Will Varley

Well done to the winners and also well done to all the boys who pulled on a Blues shirt this year.”

Squad: 1 – J. Paling, 2 – B. Upton, 3 – F. Tilly, 4 – F. Lindfield, 5 – G. Da Vall, 6 – H. Kent,
7 – F. Collins, 8 – J. Walsgrove, 9 – Z. Harrison, 10 – J. Travis, 11 – S. Roose, 12, – B. Law,
13 – C. Rowbotham, 14 – W. Varley, 15 – F. Turner-McQueen, 16 – R. Thomson, 17 – F. Sciacca,
18 – T, Bidwell, 19 – T. Jewitt, 20 – R, Jones

Coaching Team: Neil Upton, James Buckley (mid-week coach George Payne)