Some strong play, but the final push was a little too late.

Final Score:  Yarnbury 31-17 Heath 2’s

Selection:  Pilcher, Puttick, Heron, Rhodes, Milner, Haigh, Shipman, Ward, Crabtree, Scrimshaw, Hinchliffe, Hall, Bruce, Mollet, Storey.
Subs: Kerr, Whitworth, James, Traviss, Gianotti, Malik, & Reynolds.

Scorers:  Tries: Rhodes, Hinchliffe & Pilcher.  Goal: Reynolds.

Report:

Heath travelled to Leeds for the second week running after the morale boosting win at Roundhegians seven days earlier. With a strong squad named, the mood in the camp was positive. However, after a slow start by the visitors, Yarnbury were on top and deservedly scored the first two tries in quick succession for a 12-0 lead.

Undeterred, Heath began to use their strengths, the pack lead by the impressive Jack Pilcher, Mark Puttick and Gavin Rhodes were hitting hard in defence and carrying well. From a dominant catch and drive, the Heath forwards battered the try line with Carter Haigh and George Heron going close before Rhodes crashed over for an unconverted try.

With the introduction of Paddy Kerr and Emlyn James, and a reshuffle in the backs with Ben Gianotti entering the field at fullback, Heath were on top. In the backs, Gareth Hall and Jacob Storey were carrying well off Olly Scrimshaw but the final pass was lacking with a number of handling mistakes. The visitors were dominant in the scrum, Jack Crabtree linked with Brook Ward down the blindside before the ball was recycled for Tobias Hinchliffe to dive in the corner. Heath looked to take the lead and when the scrum was rumbling over the line, the referee deemed the Heath front row to have stood up, to the bemusement of most onlookers. After a couple more mistakes and penalties, Yarnbury’s dangerous centre cut through for a try under the posts, half time 19-10.

Heath needed to cut out the errors and keep the ball tight. Despite this ringing in their ears, Heath were under pressure immediately and from a scrum conceded an unconverted try in the corner. Hall and Jack Bruce both had to leave the field with injuries after thunderous hits in midfield, Junaid Malik and Brad Traviss entered the field. Hinchliffe should have doubled his tally but he fumbled with the line beckoning. Rhodes upset the referee a few times in a matter of minutes, eventually sin binned for a high tackle, with Yarnbury scoring their final try and converting to open up a 21 point lead. Guest sub, Michael Reynolds, controlled the play well, with Jack Mollet and Gianotti making a couple of good breaks. With ten minutes remaining, Heath’s best player, Pilcher broke through 30 metres out, running over the full back and nearly destroying the posts for a great score, Reynolds converted. Heath were banging on the door but it was too little too late.

This was another good runout against a strong Yarnbury team. With a bit more luck and less mistakes the wins will come. We’ll stick together and go again next weekend against our local rivals Old Rishworthians at home.