HEATH SNATCH VICTORY IN A THRILLING OPENING ENCOUNTER

Selection:

15 Matt Hallett  14 Elliot Spiers  13 Joe Morrison  12 Tom Owen  11 Callum Harriott-Brown 10 Chris Johnson  9 Dom Walsh  1 Rondene Johnson  2 Alex McFadden  3 Chris Moore  4 Matt Beasty  5  Fergus Marsden  6 Jason Merrie  7 Harvey Keighley-Payne  8 Ben Stringer  16 Sam Fletcher  17 Olly Cook  18 Jack Pilcher 

Stats:

Tries 1 Each Matt Hallett and Joe Morrison   1 Conversion and Penalty Chris Johnson

Report:

Newly promoted Heath travelled over to Ilkley, last season's North 1 East Champions, for a league meeting in the newly created Region 1 North East League, Level 5 in the RFU rugby pyramid. Heath welcomed three new signings, fly half Chris Johnson, Harvey Keighley-Payne at flanker and Sam  Fletcher who was on the bench. Heath also welcomed back Rondene Johnson at prop returning to the club after a few seasons away from the game. Expectations were high from the large crowd who had gathered with many making the journey over from Halifax to witness the historical game and a win, hopefully!

Ilkley kicked off playing towards the cricket field end with the ball collected by Jason Merrie whose pass to Chris Johnson saw him put in a huge kick to clear finding touch in the home sides half. Heath started well but Johnson was surprisingly shown a yellow card, after only 3 minutes, as he handed off a potential tackle.

Ilkley took immediate advantage as Heath tried to re-group and, following some inept tackling from the visitors, Ilkley wingman Harry Harrison scored a try, converted by Jack Brown, and the home side led 7-0 with only 6 minutes played.

Heath responded immediately and following a super run from Elliott Spiers the ball was passed across the back line where it eventually found Matt Hallett and a clever kick and chase saw the full back secure the ball for touchdown and Heath were back in the game 7-5 with 9 minutes on the clock.

It had been a frantic start with both sides putting in some blockbusting tackles as the game developed into a mid-field battle. Chris Johnson returned and soon after Jason Merrie had to leave the pitch with an injury replaced by Jack Pilcher. Gradually, Heath began to take control of the game keeping possession but, on 20 minutes Harvey Keighley-Payne, who seems to have more energy than a Duracell bunny, received a yellow card again somewhat surprisingly to the players and supporters from Heath but hey-ho!

Once again Ilkley went in search of a score, with the man advantage, but Heath were in no mood to concede and kept the home side at bay. A head injury to Tom Owen saw him replaced by Sam Fletcher as Ilkley continued to press and only some astute awareness from Callum Harriott-Brown, enabling the wingman to cover an Ilkley kick through, saw him collect and kick clear the ball finding touch on the half way line. On the half hour mark Heath missed a chance to take the lead with a penalty miss from Johnson but it wasn’t long before he made amends when a slick pass to Joe Morrison saw the centre cruise over for a second try, converted by Johnson, and Heath led 12-7 with 35 minutes on the clock. The home side responded with some slick rugby but they could not break down a resilient Heath defence and as half time arrived the visitors fully justifying their lead.

Olly Cook replaced Rondene Johnson, who had put in a solid 40 minute stint, and he was quickly into action receiving the ball from kick-off as Ilkley came out at the start of the second half with all guns blazing. They were rewarded after only 42 minutes with a second try as hooker Charley Head stormed over the line under the posts for a try, converted by Jack Brown and the home side led 14-12. Heath had been slow to react and an injury to Ben Stringer on 48 minutes saw Rondene Johnson return to action.

The game once again developed into a stop start half following some brutal tackling which left players strewn around the field. It was a real battle as Heath once again missed a chance to take the lead with a missed penalty but their defence was excellent and they were determined not to concede a score, despite the efforts of the home side, who pummelled the visitors defence. Ben Stringer returned to the action, replacing Matt Hallett, but a serious injury to an Ilkley player on the hour mark saw the game stopped for a period and both teams managed to get a welcome breather as the player was stretchered off. From the re-start both teams missed penalty chances but on 75 minutes Chris Johnson broke for the line before being held short and, with Chris Moore backing up, Ilkley  conceded another  penalty which this time Johnson converted and Heath took the lead 15-14 with 5 minutes remaining.

Back came Ilkley in search of a score but Dom Walsh was on hand to put in a superb clearance kick from his own half finding touch in the home side's 22. Next up, Chris Moore, Rondene Johnson and Jack Pilcher were on hand to soak up the minutes before Moore was replaced by Jason Merrie and his first touch of the ball saw him charge through the home defence, only to be held up short of the try-line. An attempted drop kick from Chris Johnson went just wide but Heath had done enough and, as the referee sounded the final whistle, it was a very relieved Heath side and their many supporters. 

Make no mistake this was a difficult game for Heath and Ilkley made a big effort to win but attention now  turns to next week's home encounter with yet another new club visiting North Dean - Paviors RFC from North Nottingham.