HEATH LOSE TOP SPOT WITH HOME DERBY DEFEAT TO CLECKHEATON

Selections
15 Eddie Cartwright 14 Elliott Spiers 13 Joe Morrison 12 Tom  Owen 11 Callum  Harriott-Brown 10 Chris Johnson 9 Dom Walsh 1 Paul Turner 2 Jack Pilcher 3 Chris Moore 4 Matt Beasty 5 Fergus Marsden 6 Alex McFadden 7 Jason Merrie 8 Ben Stringer 16 Si Brown 17 Ian Downsborough 18 Rondene Johnson

Scorers  
Jason Merrie Try Chris Johnson 3 pens 1 con

Report
Heath welcomed local rivals Cleckheaton to a rather dank and gloomy North Dean looking to get back on the winning trail following defeat last time out at Billingham. With injuries to Matthew Hallett, Sam Fletcher and Harvey Keighley-Payne Heath welcomed back Callum Harriott-Brown to his customary wing position with Alex McFadden moving to 6 while on the bench sat the fabled Ian Downsborugh, Si Brown and Rondene Johnson.

A large crowd had gathered to witness what was going to be a tense battle as Heath kicked off playing towards the Stainland Road end. The opening minutes saw both sides kicking to try and establish field position but from one Cleckheaton's Dale Breakwell dropped kicked the ball to sail between the posts 3-0 with 5 minutes played.

Heath responded immediately and became encamped in the visitors 22 but, despite going close for a score, Cleckheaton defended well and Heath were guilty of making too many mistakes at crucial times. On 20 minutes Cleckheaton ventured into the Heath half and once again Breakwell was on hand to convert another drop kick and it was 6-0. Back came the home side as they responded with some driving charges from Fergus Marsden, Paul Turner and Jack Pilcher as Cleckheaton were once again bombarded and it came as no surprise to see them receive a yellow card and they were down to fourteen on the half hour mark. Heath continued to keep possession of the ball desperate to find a chink in the visitors defence and on came Ian Downsborough and Rondene Johnson replacing Paul Turner and Jack Pilcher to up the pressure. Cleckheaton remained solid and Heath had to settle for a converted penalty from Chris Johnson to get onto the scoreboard, 6-3 with 34 minutes on the clock. With half time approaching the game was peppered with penalties mainly from the visitors who were desperate to hold on to their lead.

The second half began with an injury to Ben Stringer so Jack Pilcher returned to action as Heath went in search of a score. Cleckheatons' game plan was to stop Heath playing, either legal or illegally and after several infringements Chris Johnson levelled the scores with another penalty conversion, 6-6 with 46 minutes on the clock. Could this be a turning point?

Cleckheaton counter attacked from the re-start and, as Heath hesitated in defence, scored a converted try, 13-6 after 50 minutes. From the re-start the visitors were again down to fourteen following an incident off the ball and Heath now had another chance to go in search of a score but, from a dropped ball on the half-way line, the visitors kicked forwards and gave chase. Fortunately, Callum Harriott-Brown won the chase to make the ball dead. However, from the drop out under the posts Breakwell received the ball and sent over a drop kick to increase the visitors lead, 16-6 with 55 minutes on the clock. Cleckheaton continued to soak up the pressure from Heath who could only muster another score when Chris Johnson converted a penalty 40 metres out, 16-9.

Paul Turner and Ben Stringer returned with Matt Beasty and Chris Moore coming off and their effect was immediate.  A strong run from Callum Harriott-Brown enabled Heath to become encamped in the visitors 22 and, following surges runs from Ian Downsborough and Alex McFadden, Jason Merrie was on hand to score a try for Heath, converted by Chris Johnson and the scores were level 16-16 with 70 minutes played.

Heath were now going in search of another score as Cleckheaton looked for some inspiration and they received it when a charge down from a Dom Walsh kick enabled them to give chase and the speedy Richard Noble touched down in the corner for a converted try; 23-16 to take the lead. Back came Heath once again looking for an opening as they threw the ball around but Cleckheaton were not to be breached and with the clock winding down they held on for the win.

Once again another intriguing derby game which at times resembled a game of chess as players put their bodies on the line as they searched for openings. Cleckheaton had put in a tremendous defensive stint and hit Heath with breaks and seemed to score every time they ventured into Heaths half. The result sees Heath drop a place and they will be looking to bounce back when they visit Doncaster Phoenix next week.

League results:  here

League table:  here

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