Heathfield and Waldron 20 - Old Dunstonian 22

With time virtually expired, a multi phased passage of play concluded with debutant centre Ben Connolly scoring under the posts with the decisive conversion the last act of the match.

On a ridiculously hot October afternoon Dunstonian had jumped into an early 10 point lead - courtesy of tries from Mackie and Dallanana - through a combination of incisive running and flaky home defence. Heathfield responded with a converted score before the old boys slickly worked the short side from a ruck for a further unconverted try. In the course of this move fly half Bryant Hall was injured, resulting in the old boys rather losing their shape for the rest of the half. Successful penalties for the hosts either side of half time left the score poised at 15 - 13 favouring the visitors, setting up a rollercoaster finale.

Having resisted for much of the half and showing a discipline that denied Heathfield a kickable opportunity to take the lead, D's citadel was finally breached when a scrum turnover became the platform for a converted score and a 5 point lead. With time almost expired Dunstonians threw everything at the hosts. A series of phases, prominently featuring the running skills of prop Marc Dennis (or so I am assured) eventually resulted in Connolly's touchdown. D's had not made a kick all afternoon, and it was Connolly himself who made no mistake from in front in the games final and decisive moment.

Heathfield may consider that this was a game they should have closed out (their perspective can be found here http://www.hwrfc.co.uk/page14503835.aspx )but the old boys will feel that having outscored the hosts four tries to two that his win, however narrow the margins, was merited. H & W are clearly no mugs, and having been the only side thus far to run East Grinstead even close, D's can consider this a very satisfactory scalp to have taken on the road. Excellent again were scrum half Cody Mackie and debutants Connolly and lock Luke Smart .

Next week the old boys host Aylesford Bulls, always a tough nut to crack. 3pm Park Langley