HEATH SECURE LOSING BONUS POINT ON THE ROAD

Team Selection
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 Saif Boussaada 5 Fergus Marsden 6 Alex McFadden 7 Jason Merrie 8 Ben Stringer 16 Elliott Knight 17 Rondene Johnson 18 Ian Dowsborough

Scorers
Fergus Marsden 1 try Rondene Johnson 1 try Elliott Knight 1 try    Chris Johnson 2 Cons 1 Pen

Report 
Heath made the long trip north to take on third place Alnwick in the Region 1 North East game of  the day. Heath had to shuffle their pack with Jack Pilcher passing a late fitness test to start at hooker and Saif Boussaada replacing the unavailable Matt Beasty. In the backs Heath welcomed back Tom Owen while on the bench new signing Elliott Knight sat alongside Rondene Johnson and the immutable Ian Downsborough. 

The crowd were swelled with a large contingent of Heath supporters, many of whom had made the game part of a weekend break, and in glorious conditions it was Heath who kicked off playing towards the clubhouse end. With a game of such importance to both teams it was a tentative start as they tested each other out but it was Heath who got on the scoreboard first when Chris Johnson converted a penalty with a long-range kick and Heath led 3-0 with four minutes on the clock.

This should have settled Heath down but once again, as in previous games, from the re-start they seem to switch off and following several lazy attempts at tackling Alnwick responded immediately with a converted try, 7-3 with six minutes on the clock.

This was the inspiration Alnwick needed and they began to take charge of the game and it came as no surprise to see them extend their lead with a converted try under the posts 14-3 after fifteen minutes. Heath were guilty of giving away too many penalties as the home side took control and on twenty minutes Tom Owen was yellow carded and with Heath down to fourteen players they were desperate not to concede another try.

Captain Chris Moore was leading by example but he received a serious hand injury and was replaced by Rondene Johnson but he was powerless to prevent Alnwick adding to their score with a penalty conversion, 17-3 with 30 minutes played.

Heath continued to battle and were gradually clawing their way back into the game. Jack Pilcher was replaced by Elliott Knight and shortly after Tom Owen returned so Heath were back to full complement with little damage done. Heath began to press for a score and when Alex McFadden and Paul Turner linked up well the ball came out to Jason Merrie who drove into the home sides forwards. Next, Ben Stringer won line out ball and Tom Owen was on hand to drive forwards before Rondene Johnson swooped to pass the ball onto a rampaging Fergus Marsden who powered over the try-line for a try converted by Chris Johnson and Heath were back in the game 17-10 as half time approached.

Heath had a further chance to reduce the arrears with a penalty but this time Johnsons kick was just off target. Half time arrived with no further scores but it had been an intriguing half and the crowd waited with baited breath for the second half to commence.

Ian Downsborough replaced Saif Boussaada at the start of the second half and he was quickly involved in the game as both sides went looking for another score. A mistake in the back line from Heath enabled Alnwick to pounce and they scored a converted try on forty-four minutes to extend their lead to 24-10. This time Heath reacted and they began to play some superb rugby passing the ball along the back line to extend the  home defence and patience paid off following several phases of play Ronden Johnson was on hand to cross the line for an un-converted try, 24-15, with fifty-five minutes played.

The game was developing into a real battle and was there for the taking and following a quickly taken tap penalty from Chris Johnson his kick through to the corner saw Elliott Spiers set off on a chase with Alnwick having to kick the ball dead with Spiers ready to pounce. A huge clearance from the home side put pressure back onto Heath but Callum Harriott- Brown was on hand to cover and scoop the ball up before releasing Joe Morrison who charged forwards before releasing Jason Merrie whose run brought Heath back into the home sides half. Next up, Heath conceded a penalty and following back chat a further 10 metres was added which gave Alnwick a chance to add a penalty. Fortunately, the kick hit the upright and bounced clear and Heath had been let off the hook but it sent out a warning to them as the game began to build up momentum.

Once again from a huge high clearance Heath knocked on and Alnwick responded this time with a converted penalty, 27-15, with sixty-five minutes played. Undeterred, Heath responded and when Saif Boussaada returned for Ian Downsborough with ten minutes left the game was any teams to win. It continued to be fast and furious as both teams hammered each other but when Joe Morrison slipped a tackle and headed for the try-line he released the supporting Elliott Knight for him to score a debut try in the corner, converted by Chris Johnson and a score of 27-22 with five minutes remaining.

Alnwick were holding on, just, as Heath continued to pass the ball around and once again, following superb play by the back line, Elliott Spiers went in search of a score only to be halted by a brilliant cover tackle from Alnwick to save the day. Time was ticking by and when the final whistle sounded it was a great relief to the home side and their supporters who had managed to cling on for the win. 

This was a great advert for rugby at this level from two excellent sides who entertained the crowd from start to finish. As we reach the half-way stage of the season the result sees Alnwick move up to second spot with Heath in third on the same points but having lost one game more. Next week Heath are on the road again when they visit Paviors and they will be hoping to get a result as Alnwick entertain Billingham in a top two clash. See you there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

League Results for Saturday  here.

Table after Sat's games  here

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