Heath breech Fortress Dinnington for 5 point WIN!

Team:  15 Eddie Cartwright 14 Luke  Saltonstall  13 Isahia Spooner  12 Ezra Hinchliffe  11 Callum Harriett-Brown  10 Dan Cole  9 Michael Reynolds  1 Dave Skinner  2 Alex McFadden  3 Chris Moore  4 Matt Beasty  5 Fergus Marsden  6 Alex Patrick  7 Jonny Cole  8 Richard Brown  16 Mark Putttick  17 Seife Boussadda  18 Jack Crabtree.

Heath travelled to South Yorkshire to take on a Dinnington side who had only lost once at home this season. Dave Harrison made a couple of changes to the side bringing in the experienced Eddie Cartwright at full back and Dave Skinner debuted at prop for the unavailable Chris Piper. On the bench Mark Puttick sat alongside Jack Crabtree and Seife Boussadda.

In superb conditions Dinnington kicked off and put immediate pressure on the visitors defence but despite Heath giving away a number of penalties the home side could not penetrate a solid Heath defence. Heath began to mount serious attacks but once again the Dinnington side stood firm but with a quarter of the game played Heath had a breakthrough. The hard working Michael Reynolds broke free and he released the supporting Dan Cole who quickly sent the ball into the path of Ezra Hinchliffe. The centre scythed through a rather static defence before releasing wing Luke Saltonstall who raced into the corner for Heaths first try. Hinchliffe added the extras and Heath led 7-0. This seemed to drive Heath forwards and with Richard Brown, Alex McFadden and Fergus Marsden drove into the home defence, followed by Reynolds, Brown and Edddie Cartwright it came as no surprise to see Heath increase their lead with a penalty from Ezra Hinchliffe and a score of 10-0 with 25 minutes played. Back came Dinnington, reducing the arrears with a penalty conversion from Jonny West, before Heath responded with another superb try. The move began with Chris Moore and Jonny Cole making yardage in the Dinnington 22. The ball came out to the on-rushing Ezra Hinchliffe who released the ball to Eddie Cartwright who in turn slipped a sublime pass to wing Callum Harriett-Brown. The wingman drove towards the corner but he was held short by a covering Dinnington defence before Hinchliffe was on hand to collect the ball and dink over for a try and a lead of 15-3 with minutes left before half time. The game ebbed and flowed and Dinnington bounced straight back onto the attack.  Alex Patrick was sin binned and Heath were under the cosh and it came as no surprise to see Neil Dunn score a try, converted by West, and a score of 15-10 as the half time whistle sounded the game was wide open.

Heath brought on Seife Boussadda replacing Matt Beasty. Dinnington still had the momentum and after going close a few times Simon Bunting went in for an unconverted try on 48 minutes and the scores were level, 15-15. Dinnington continued to attack but when a Dan Cole pass found Eddie Cartwright the full backs clever kick towards the half-way line saw Harriett-Brown respond and hacked the ball towards the Dinnington try-line. The chase was on but it was the flying Heath wing who won the race scoring a try under the posts, converted by Hinchliffe, and a score of  22-15 with 54 minutes on the clock. This seemed to inspire Heath and when Chris Moore off loaded to Eddie Cartwright the full back set off at full speed. He sent out a pass to Michael Reynolds who juggled with the ball before releasing Harriett-Brown. The winger then released the supporting Issy Spooner who went in for Heaths bonus point try and with a score of 29-15 the game seemed over on the hour mark. Jack Crabtree and Mark Puttick replaced Reynolds and Marsden as Dinnington mounted pressure again. Spooner was sin-binned on 67 minutes and the home side continued to press for a score and with 10 minutes remaining wing Todd Bonsall scored in the corner, 20-29. Dinnington continued to mount attacks and with minutes remaining scored a fourth try from Robert Goodwin, 29-25. Fortunately for Heath Jonny West did not have his kicking boots on and with both conversions missed Heath ran out winners, 29-25.

This was yet another enthralling encounter with both sides giving their all in a really entertaining game. Heaths bonus points win, linked to Pontefracts loss at Selby, means they retain second spot in the league and need one more win from their three remaining games to secure that play-off place.