LATE PENALTY SECURES VICTORY FOR YORK AS HEATH MISS OUT

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

Scorers
Matt Beasty 1 try  Fergus Marsden  1 try  Joe Morrison 1 try  Dan Cole 1 con

Report
Heath travelled over to York looking to maintain the pressure at the top but were forced to make changes to the team. Chris Johnson failed a fitness test so in came Dan Cole making his first start since his last game way back in October 2021 against Morpeth. Tom Owen had a starting berth at centre after a stint on the bench and Elliott Knight was also drafted in as coach Harry shuffled his pack. On the bench it was a welcome return for Jordan Bradbrook who sat alongside Ian Downsborough and Jack Pilcher.

Conditions would play a big part in the game as there was a gale blowing from the river end to the clubhouse and underfoot torrential rain in the last few days made the surface tricky. Heath kicked off playing into the wind and were quickly into their stride as York struggled to keep them at bay. From a line out Jason Merrie collected the ball and Heath drove forwards with Paul Turner and Chris Moore prominent but the home side stood firm.

Next up Heath were awarded a penalty and Dan Cole found touch in the corner. Ben Stringer soared high to collect and from the drive to the line it  was Matt Beasty who emerged with the ball and a first try 5-0 with twelve minutes played and the perfect start.

Heath continued to press and were playing controlled rugby keeping hold of the ball and creating chances and when Joe Morrison collected the ball on the York 22 he powered through the home defence to score a second Heath try, 10-0 with a quarter of the game played.

York responded and gradually worked their way back into the game and were rewarded with a converted try on the half hour mark, 10-7.

From the re-start Cole kicked flat and this seemed to have the necessary effect as Heath collected the ball and drove towards the line. York were desperately defending as the Heath pack surged for the line and they had no answer to Fergus Marsden as the huge second row forward powered over for a try under the posts and an easy conversion from Dan Cole saw Heath lead 17-7. Jack Pilcher and Ian Downsborough replaced Alex McFadden and Fergus Marsden as Heath continued to press but much to the home sides credit they responded and began to mount an attack and with half time approaching they scored a converted try in the corner for a score of 17-14 as the referee blew.

Eddie Cartwright made way for Jordan Bradbrook at the start of the second half and with conditions in their favour Heath went in search of a score. However, in York's first attack on fifty minutes they converted a penalty to level the scores 17-17. Jordan Bradbrook went on a storming run as the game developed into a real battle and with tempers high following an altercation Ian Downsborough was yellow carded. Shortly after Elliott Spiers received a yellow for a dangerous tackle and Heath were up against it.

The game had developed into a real battle but despite being down to thirteen Heath continued to press and only a fly kick clearance from the home side prevented a score. With the ten minute period up Fergus Marsden returned for Downsborough and with Spiers returning Heath were back to full strength with no damage done.

With ten minutes to go the game was evenly poised and could go either way. Alex McFadden returned to the action replacing Chris Moore and he was quickly into the action as York began to press. A super cover tackle from Joe Morrison prevented a score for the home side but York continued to press and in the final minutes were awarded a penalty inn front of the posts, converted and a final score of 20-17 and York had snatched the win.

The result was a huge disappointment to the large band of travelling supporters but the home side had battled all game and were more disciplined and defended well. Heath now turn their attentions to next weeks home game against top of the table Billingham in what should be another titanic battle.