The first challenge for Crawley’s opening league game in London SE3 was actually putting a team out. With 28 players unavailable it meant 8 new players had a chance to wear the clubs senior shirt for the first time. The next challenge was the opposition. Heathfield & Waldron were relegated from London SE2 (level 7) and are a class outfit who are very well organised.

Three of the eight new players were last years colts. Robert Higgins, Luke Bailey, and Ieuan Death. All tho it was a baptism of fire for them. All three of them put in solid performances! Luke Bailey in particular was a standout. With excellent cover defence on the wing and a try any senior player would be proud of. Higgins put his body on the line again and again and unfortunately ended up coming off with a concussion. And Ieuan came on at half time and didn’t miss a tackle. Aaron O’Callaghan, and Chris Thorne are two new players to the club. And again stepped up and did themselves proud. O’Callaghan playing Hooker threw a lovely lineout ball down the back of the lineout which lead to Bailey’s try. And Chris Thorne was resilient playing at fullback and making tackle after tackle.

Regular 2nd XV players Joe Hatton, Joao Sousa, Henry Tyson, and Marc Fulbrook also had an opportunity to play at a higher level. Unfortunately for Sousa he came off injured at halftime and wasn’t able to return to the pitch. Marc Fulbrook also copped an early injury but showed great character and determination to remain on the pitch. Fulbrook saved a certain try in the later stages of the game when confronted with a 4 on 1 his decision to go for he intercept proved to be one of commitment and belief. And also got the large group of Crawley supporters up on their feet cheering. Both Joe Hatton and Henry Tyson have been training hard this season. And it showed out on the pitch. Hatton held his own at lineout time, and also showed he has a high work rate around the park. Tyson playing at scrum half possibly played one of his best games in a 1st team shirt. Delivering accurate ball to fly half Paddy Dean, as well as controlling a very good H&W scrum half. Tyson certainly did not let his opposite man get the better of him.

The rest of the team was made up from regular 1st team players. The majority of them being a part of the success of 2019/20 season where Crawley were promoted after losing only one game in Sussex 1. The forwards of Sergio Fernandez, Mark Stevenson, Luke Attew, Aaron Bozcek, and Nate Cox all put in worthy performances against one of the best packs they’ll come across this season. Fernandez, and Bozcek played the full 80 minutes each. Bozcek another player who played on after an early injury to his foot. Stevenson came off at halftime with an injury only to put himself back out there after another injury meant Crawley went down to 14. Captain Sam Musgrave put in a request to his broken men on the sideline to dig deep and Mark Stevenson answered his captains call. In the backs Paddy Dean played well and controlled the attack nicely. Sam Musgrave defended valiantly and showed late in the game what this team means to him. Musgrave must have made close to 20 tackles. Jordan Walker again showed his vast arrange of skills moving from back row to cover centre for this game. And it was his trade mark break up the middle that lead to Crawley’s only try of the game. Then coming on in the 2nd half Corey Toogood another proud Crawley club man put his body on the line again & again and distributed the ball to his outside backs with accurate precision.

All in all it was a very tough day at the office with Heathfield & Waldron running in no less than 13 tries. However, the lads never stopped trying. And now know what is required to compete at this level. Although in saying that, not too many teams will play with the speed, power and accuracy that H&W showed. They played very much like a level 7 team!

Selection and training is the key. I know we have the ability and the game plan to be competitive. However, for a club to be truly successful it takes everyone from the committee to the players to buy in and believe! We have roughly 45 senior players and if we can get everyone down to training and making themselves available for selection we will all improve!

Next week is another tough game with Pulborough visiting the field of dreams. As it’s the first home league game in over 18 months all support would be very much appreciated. I expect to see the balcony full and sidelines packed with Crawley support.

Lastly, I would like to thank those that did travel to H&W. It was great seeing some of the minis, Crawley ladies, and the Crawley Bulldogs come up and support. #CrawleyRFC #Oneclub