New backers will lift Heath
Haywards Heath RFC bosses are celebrating after securing a three-year partnership with a major new main club-wide sponsor.
Sussex-based business Focus Group will support the grass-roots rugby club to achieve their ambitions on and off the pitch as they continue their drive to build a new clubhouse at Whitemans Green.
Established in 2003, Focus Group is one of the UK’s leading independent providers of business technology, delivering telecoms, connectivity, IT, cloud, cyber security and mobile solutions for businesses of all sizes across all sectors.
Chris Goodman, co-founder of Focus Group, , said: “I could not be more excited to have Focus Group support Haywards Heath RFC, as it continues to provide opportunities for all ages and abilities to play rugby. We are always looking for ways to support emerging talent and sport in the community and I have been impressed by the way the club has already demonstrated its ability to raise significant funds itself, to support the vision of building a new clubhouse.”
Phil Herbert, commercial director at HHRFC, added, “It has been a challenging two years for the club as Covid has had a negative effect on our income, sponsors and our ability to provide regular sport for our active players across the senior squad, colts, juniors and boys and girls. This club wide partnership with Focus Group brings new energy to our efforts to move forward as a club, achieve our goals on and off the pitch and create a future that benefits the health and wellbeing of everyone in the wider community.”
Based in Shoreham, the business is under the leadership of co-founders Chris Goodman and Ralph Gilbert and boasts a talented team of over 670 professionals across eight UK offices.
Focus Group has achieved market-leading organic growth alongside several key acquisitions, which in 2021 included SW Comms, an IT and telecoms business known in rugby for many years as key sponsor of Premiership club Exeter Chiefs.
With a priority always placed on people and culture, sustainability and corporate social responsibility, Focus Group is committed to maintaining a positive impact on its workforce and the wider community and this new partnership with Heath reinforces the commitment to the company’s stated mission to develop relationships in the community.
Barns Green 14 Haywards Heath 22
With only a week to recover from a defeat away to Shoreham, Heath were once again on their travels, this time to face unbeaten Barns Green on a cold and blustery afternoon.
With a number of players unavailable through injury or absence, Heath again fielded a much-changed team featuring 11 players under-19, including three of this year’s colts.
Despite the inexperienced line-up Heath were quickly into the game attacking from deep with their three quarters keen to spin the ball wide meaning all the players were able to get hands on the ball early.
Heath made several quick incursions to the Barns Green half but solid defence kept them at bay, although they were starting to turn the screw with the penalty count.
More pressure from the visitors saw Barns Green concede another penalty deep in their own 22 which was quickly taken and put through the hands to the wing, where debutant colt Samuela Bulitkavale-Lancaster stepped inside the covering defence to score in the corner for 0-5.
Barns Green stormed back into the Heath half after kicking long with the wind but the defensive resolve was vastly improved on last week and the danger averted.
In fact Heath were playing with confidence and a break from their own 22 saw them into the Barns Green half where the ball was fly-hacked through from Chris Neill and then again from debutant scrum-half Jamie Thirst who was able to dot down over the try line to take lead to 0-10 after 25 minutes.
On the stroke of half time Heath were able to score their third try.
Two quickly taken penalties saw the ball moved wide left where a sniping run from Thirst cut open the defence.
The ball was recycled quickly and lurking on the wing, veteran prop Martin McDonagh needed no second invitation to power through the covering tacklers and touchdown in the corner for 0-15.
The second half playing into the wind saw Barns Green change their game plan and start playing pick and go rugby.
From the kick off they worked their way down the entire pitch and managed a score under the posts which was converted for 7-15 and very much game on.
The match developed into a pattern with Heath’s defence trying to prevent the Barns Green forwards trucking it up around the fringes.
What ball Heath were able to win they tried to move quickly to shift the home side tacklers around the park. Sustained pressure from Heath saw them awarded a number of penalties in Barns Green territory and hammer away at the line with a try disallowed for being held up.
From the penalty advantage the ball was spun wide where second row Dan Shotton carried just short of the line allowing open side Lewis Goodhall to cap another fine performance and crash over for the bonus point try.
Tom Wharton converted for 7 -22.
There was still time for Barns Green to come back into the game with a try of their own as they cut through the Heath defence around the side of a ruck for 14-22 but Heath were able to see out the remaining few minutes to the final whistle.
Coach Martin McTaggart was delighted with the response to last week’s defeat from the squad and particularly with the performance of the four younger squad members making their debuts for the team.
The teams will face each other again on Saturday as Heath play host at Whitemans Green with a 2.15pm kick off.
Heath squad: Martin McDonagh; Harry Edwards; Euan GreavesSmith; Henry Dickson; Ellis Dubois; James Watson; Lewis Goodhall; Fraser Russell; Jamie Thirst; Chris Neill(c apt ); Samuel aBulitka vale Lancaster; Jack Flower; Tom Wharton; Sean Fitzgerald; Mitch Day; Bradley Palmer; Emmett Edwards; Jack Hart; Dan Shotton.