Immense performance brings a great Win.

Selection:

Cook, Puttick, Heron, Shipman, Dance, Ward, Sharp, McLaughlin, Rowntree, Cole, Ellam, Sunter, Bruce, Granger, Cadogen.

Subs: Wilkinson, Haigh, Dawes, Burbidge, & Horner.

Scorers:

Tries: Cook (3), Bruce, Ward & Ellam.
Cons: Cole & Cadogen.
Pen: Cole.

Report:

On a dreary afternoon and after a warm up to forget, Heath went about their business in impressive fashion. Starting brightly, it was obvious from the start the home team would come try to take Heath on up front. All thirteen forwards that played their part were immense with interchanges adding energy and massive defence.

After a couple of penalties, Richard Cole kicked deep into the corner, Oliver Cook spotted a gap to carry over strongly for the first try. Cleckheaton tried to hit back but a loose pass in midfield was hacked on by Jack Bruce who controlled and kept his composure to dot down, Cole converted. Richard Dance, Brook Ward and Sam Sharp were everywhere in attack and defence with the former destructive with a monstrous hit next to a ruck. From this good field position, Ward emerged with the ball over the try line after a number of strong carries by the excellent Will McLaughlin and George Heron. From a hopeful kick, the home wing chased well and collected, Dom Ellam chased his opposite number down only to concede a penalty try and ten minutes in the sin bin. Heath went straight back on the attack, Phil Cadogen, Eddie Sunter and Bruce looked to attack, with Max Rowntree everywhere, defending superbly in the ten channel. Cook scored his second, Rowntree switching play to the unstoppable prop. Cleckheaton looked to have scored only for Mark Puttick’s hand to deny a certain try.

Half time 7-22.

The home side came out determined to score the next try, again held up. Cole kicked long to relieve pressure, with Max Dawes, Joe Shipman and Matthew Wilkinson pressurising in defence, either turning over the ball or winning penalties. From a penalty deep in the home teams 22, Cole converted to keep the scoreboard ticking over. As Cleckheaton tired, Heath’s dominance was now transferred to the scrum, with Carter Haigh and Oli Burbidge running hard and breaking the gain line. McLaughlin broke fifty metres from an over throw before Harry Granger nearly finished well from a cross field kick. Sam Horner took to the field to make his senior debut, looking at home in the back row. Ellam spotted no full back at home, chipped over and won the race to score a great try, Cadogen converted. As the game was coming to a close there was still time for man of the match Cook to take a long pass and power over for a deserved hatrick try. Full time 7-37.

This was a great effort by every player in the 20 man squad. Everyone played their part in a dominant display. UTH 👊