TWO LATE TRIES CONDEMN HEATH TO DEFEAT IN TITANIC BATTLE

Selection:
15 Elliott Spiers 14 Si Brown 13 Joe Morrison 12 Tom Owen 11 Callum Harriott-Brown 10 Alex Bull 9 Dom Walsh 1 Paul Turner 2 Jack Pilcher 3 Chris Moore 4 Matt Beasty 5 Ben Stringer 6 Jason Merrie 7 Jonny Cole 8 Will McLaughlin 16 Oliver Scrimshaw 17 Alex McFadden 18 Seif Boussaada

Report:
With Eddie Cartwright unavailable coach Harry moved Elliott Spiers to full back and gave a starting berth to club stalwart Si Brown on the wing. The bench saw Alex McFadden, Seif Boussaada and Olly Scrimshhaw as Heath entertained top of the table Driffield in the game of the day in the North 1 East schedule.

Driffield arrived at North Dean looking to complete the double after defeating Heath at Kellythorpe back in November which also was the last time Heath tasted defeat. A large crowd had gathered for the encounter and from the first whistle it was obvious it was going to be a tense battle.

Heath began the game, playing towards the Stainland Road end, with a deep kick from Alex Bull putting pressure on the visitors defence from the off. Early exchanges saw both sides making mistakes with Heath having problems winning line outs but they were in control of scrums and Driffield were forced to make a change after 15 minutes replacing hooker Warren- Lambert to address the problem. Alex Bull was carded for an infringement but from the resulting penalty James Watts missed an easy chance for the visitors to take an early lead. Driffield began to ramp up the pressure but a super clearance from Dom Walsh relieved the any danger. Driffield came back strongly and from yet another penalty Watts missed the target much to the relief of the home crowd. This seemed to inspire the home side and Jack Pilcher went on a storming run before being hauled down by a struggling defence. Heath were awarded a penalty and opted for a quick tap from Walsh who released Jason Merrie and Joe Morrison before the centre was bundled into touch and the visitors cleared their lines. Next up Elliott Spiers and Callum Harriett-Brown linked well to set up another purge into the visitors defence as Bull returned on 25 minutes. Driffield had re-grouped and began to expose the home defence and it came as no surprise to see them breach the lines to go over for an unconverted try and a lead of 5-0 with 30 minutes played.

Seif Boussaada and Alex McFadden came on for Jack Pilcher and Will McLaughlin as Heath tried to re-group but with half time approaching Driffield were awarded yet another penalty but yet another miss meant Heath were let off and were fortunate to be only five points in arrears as the referee blew.

Heath coach Harrison had stern words for his charges but the second half began with Driffield on the attack.  Heath maintained a solid defence and when Jason Merrie and Jonny Cole made inroads into the visitors defence Heath began to look in control. Driffield had a player carded following an illegal tackle on Harriott-Brown and now it was Heath's chance to take advantage. However, Driffield had a chance to increase their lead with a penalty attempt fortunately once again missed by Watts. Dom Walsh found touch close to the Driffield try-line and when Matt Beasty collected the line out Heath drove forwards. Boussaada looked to have scored a try but this was disallowed as the referee blew to stop the game following a nasty blood injury to Driffields Joe Robinson who had to leave the field. However, from the re-start Heath continued to press and Ben Stringer scored to level the scores with 55 minutes played.

From the re-start Driffield were awarded a penalty and this time Watts was on target for Driffield to restore their lead 8-5. The game was a tight battle played in an intense atmosphere as both sides looked for openings. Tom Owen, Elliott Spiers and Callum Harriett-Brown linked well to push for a score but Driffield were a solid unit in defence and Heath found them difficult to break down. Olly Scrimshaw replaced Si Brown after 65 minutes as Heath continued to try to prise a hole in the visitors defence with Boussaada, Walsh and Morrison linking up but with Heath looking dangerous Driffield intercepted a pass and set off from the half way line on a charge to the line. Fortunately, Jason Merrie chased hard to make a crucial tackle as Driffield looked certain to score as the game ebbed and flowed.

With 10 minutes remaining Pilcher and McLaughlin replaced Matt Beasty and Chris Moore and they had an immediate effect as Heath pressurised the visitors line. Heath looked to have scored a try but the referee judged the ball to be held up much to the disappointment of the crowd. Patience was needed and it looked as if this had paid off when Heath were awarded a penalty following a high tackle on Tom Owen. Alex Bull took his time to convert and the scores were level,8-8 with 5 minutes remaining. Heath were going for the jugular and when McLaughlin went on a superb jinking run Driffield were on the ropes. Then came the sucker punch! Driffield managed to keep possession of the ball to breach the home defence for the all important try,13-8, and then backed this up with another try from the re-start, 18-8 and the game was won with Heath left with nothing.

This was a superb advert for the game with both teams going at each other for the whole of the match. Heath once again allowed Driffield to score tries in the final minutes and the visitors just about deserved the win to maintain top spot. The result sees Heath slip to fourth place and must re-group and prepare for next weeks vital home game against local rivals Cleckheaton who are third.