Dominance brings a good win. Third on the trot ..

Team:

Cook, Puttick, Heron, Shipman, Boussaada, Dawes, Wilkinson, Downsborough, Rowntree, Bull, Hinchliffe, Cartwright, Bruce, Cadogen, Scrimshaw.
Burbidge, Granger & Cole.

Scorers:

Tries: Wilkinson, Downsborough, Cook, Shipman, Scrimshaw, & Granger.
Cons: Bull (2), Cartwright & Cook.

Report:

Heath travelled to Laund Hill as both teams had been let down by their original opponents midweek.

On a tight pitch it became clear early on that whoever dominated up front would win the game. The strength in depth of the squad was on display with Oliver Cook, George Heron and Ian Downsborough carrying hard. Heath struggled to retain possession, with passes being put down at crucial times. Heath’s scrum was dominant and when pressure was finally put on the home team, player of the match, Matthew Wilkinson popped up to score from close range, Alex Bull converted.

Mark Puttick, Dawes and Wilkinson were everywhere, chopping down attackers and turning over possession. From a scrum 10 metres out, Downsborough twisted his way over for a deserved score, Bull converted. Long breaks from Tobias Hinchliffe, Phil Cadogen, Max Rowntree and Jack Bruce should have added more points only for last ditch tackles to deny any further scores. At the end of the half, Heath’s catch and drive surged forward with Cook emerging with ball over the try line. Half time 0-19.

Heath needed to control possession better and build their phases. Oli Burbidge replaced Heron and Hinchliffe made way for Harry Granger. Saif Boussaada had a number of powerful surges, with one such run he found the galloping Joe Shipman in support, he dummied his way over for a great score.

As the game became scrappy and the home side struggled with a number of injuries, scrums were now uncontested and Hinchliffe made one in for Laund Hill. Boussaada retired for Heron and Richard Cole replaced a cramped up Bull. With the main goal to keep the home side scoreless Heath defended their line superbly, big hits from Bruce and Eddie Cartwright in midfield forced errors. Wilkinson and Shipman turned over ball at vital times with Cole clearing to touch. Bruce and Rowntree broke free and set up the position for Scrimshaw to slice through untouched with Cartwright converting. Heron was held up as he looked to add to his tally, undeterred Heath moved the ball left with great hands setting up Granger in the corner, Cook converted superbly. Full time 0-38.

A scrappy game but another win to continue the great start to the season. Some great play and a powerful forward performance showed Heath’s dominance.
UTH 👊