HEATH CLING ON FOR THE POINTS, JUST!

Heath entertained mid-table Dinnington looking to extend their unbeaten run to eight games but were made to fight all the way to secure a win against a determined South Yorkshire side who battled all the way to try and secure a win. Heath had several changes due to unavailability and injury. Fergus Marsden, Jordan Moana and Richard Brown were injured so Heaths pack were re-organised with Seife Boussadda having a starting position and Ian Downsborough moving to number 8. Eddie Cartwright was unavailable which meant a starting position for new signing Isaiah Spooner whilst on the bench was Michael Reynolds, Max Dawes and the evergreen Mark Puttick.

It was the perfect start for Heath when Dinnington collected a deep kick off from the home side and found touch 30 metres out from the visitors try-line. Matt Beasty collected line out ball and Heath drove forwards with Captain Ian Downsborough marshalling the drive. Alex Mc Fadden and Seife Boussadda added the extra surge and Peter Birkett came off with the ball to score a try in the opening minute 5-0. Shortly after Ezra Hinchliffe added a penalty and the home supporters were buoyant with an 8-0 lead inside 5 minutes. From the expected onslaught Dinnington re-grouped and began to put pressure on the home defence and were rewarded with a penalty to reduce the arrears 8-3 with 15 minutes played. Heaths response was immediate as Dan Cole put in an excellent kick to find touch. Boussadda won the ball and Birkett released Isaiah Spooner for his first forage into the visitors defence. Jack Crabtree, in support, collected the ball and with still plenty to do he jinked over for a try in the corner. This was followed with a fantastic conversion from Ezra Hinchliffe and Heath led 15-3 with a quarter of the match played. Dinnington were clinging on as first Callum Harriett-Brown went on another run and Si Brown and Dan Cole also linked well but as Heath pressed it was Dinnington who surprised everyone with a breakaway try on 33 minutes and a score of 15-8 quickly became 15-11 with a penalty conversion on the stroke of half time.

There were strong words from Coach Dave Harrison to his charges but Dinnington were on a high and from a clever start from kick off the visitors put Heath under immediate pressure and were rewarded with a converted try on 45 minutes to take the lead for the first time 18-15. Heath were stunned as the visitors were playing with much more confidence but a penalty kick from Ezra  Hinchliffe on 55 minutes drew the scores level 18-18. With 20 minutes remaining Michael Reynolds and Mark Puttick came on for Matt Beasty and Chris Moore as Coach Harrison looked to strengthen his grip and both made an immediate impact making strong runs at the Dinnington defence. A long kick from Dan Cole did not find touch but the visitors defence struggled to clear and Jason Merrie and Isaiah Spooner battered the visitors defence. The pressure told as Heath were awarded a penalty which Hinchliffe converted and Heath led 21-18 with 10 minutes remaining. Dinnington responded well and it became a frantic battle with Heath clinging on. As the clock wound down Olly Cook had a strong run and Si Brown and Callum Harriett-Brown also went on runs to relieve the tension and when Dan Cole kicked the ball out of play the win was secured much to the relief of the players and the home supporters.

The win secured third spot in the league as Moortown and Old Crossleyans also had narrow victories and with a trip to top of the table Crocs next week Heath are going to have to work hard on the training paddock as they prepare for what should be a cracking derby next Saturday.