ANOTHER HARD FOUGHT BATTLE TO SECURE VITAL LEAGUE POINTS

15 Eddie Cartwright  14 Willie Tufui  13 Tom Owen  12 Ezra Hinchliffe 11 Callum Harriott-Brown  10 Dan Cole  9 Dom Walsh  1 Paul Turner  2 Mark Puttick  3 Chris Moore  4 Matt Beasty  5  Fergus Marsden  6 Jonny Cole  7 Joe Shipman  8 Alex Patrick  16 Si Brown  17 Saif Boussadda  18 Olly Cook.

Heath entertained fifth place West Leeds in their first home game since the floods and, thanks once again to the efforts of club volunteers who had been working all week on the grounds, the pitch looked in good condition on a bright sunny afternoon. Coach Dave Harrison once again rotated the squad giving starts for Paul Turner and Fergus Marsden and welcomed back from holiday Ezra Hinchliffe at centre with Willie Tufui moving onto the wing.

It was a somewhat torpid start to the game as both sides tested each other out but after 10 minutes the visitors made a breakthrough with a well worked move as second row Will Betts steamed through a rather fragile Heath defence for a try. Ryan Hoey added the extras for a 7-0 lead. Heath were struggling to come to terms with the pace of the game but a clever kick from Dan Cole was carried over the try-line by West Leeds resulting in a 5 metre scrum and Heath's first real chance of a score on 20 minutes.

Alex Patrick showed real control as the scrum moved forwards and as the ball came out Willie Tufui was on hand to touchdown in the corner, 7-5, 22 minutes played.

Usually this would spark life into Heath but it was West Leeds who came straight back and, following several mistakes from the home side, increased their lead with a penalty, 10-5, 30 minutes played. Time for a change and on came Olly Cook and Saif Boussadda replacing Paul Turner and Fergus Marsden and the effect was immediate as Heath, at last, began to keep hold of  the ball and go through  the phases. Tufui and Cook went close before the ball came out to Chris Moore who went over in the corner for a second try. Ezra Hinchliffe added the extras and Heath led for the first time 12-10 with 37 minutes played. However, West Leeds were not  finished and converted yet another penalty on the stroke of half time to re-take the lead 13-12 in a half to forget for the home side.

Heath needed to find some renewed energy and began the second half strongly. West Leeds were struggling to contain the home side and, following several scrums, Alex Patrick looked to have scored a try but this was ruled out by the referee who judged a double movement. Further pressure from Heath resulted in a converted penalty from Ezra Hinchliffe, 15-13, with 47 minutes played. Paul Turner and Fergus Marsden returned to the action at the expense of Chris Moore and Alex Patrick but Heath continued to make mistakes and West Leeds gained the lead again with a penalty, 16-15, 55 minutes played.

Heath needed to respond but seemed to be running out of ideas as Si Brown came on for Eddie Cartwright and coach Harrison's options were used up. With time running down West Leeds were looking good for the win,, despite the efforts of the home side, who needed a break. This came on 70 minutes as West Leeds tried to clear the ball to touch, Dan Cole charged down the ball and scored a try, converted by Ezra Hinchliffe, and led 22-16 much to the relief of all concerned with Heath. The question now was could Heath hold on to the lead?

West Leeds, much to their credit were not finished and mounted a series of onslaughts onto the Heath defence but time was not on their side and when the referee blew for full time Heath were relieved to have held on for the vital win.

The game was not a spectacle but, as they say, a win's a win and we now look forward to entertaining Bradford Salem next week. Second spot seems secure but there are still six rounds to go and, no doubt, the coaching team and squad will be working hard on the training paddock next week.