HEATH HOLD ON FOR FIVE POINT WIN TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE AT THE TOP

Selections
15 Sam Fletcher 14 Elliott Spiers 13 Jordan Bradbrook 12 Chris Johnson 11 Callum Harriott-Brown 10 Dan Cole 9 Dom Walsh 1 Paul Turner 2 Alex McFadden 3 Chris Moore 4 Saif Bouussaada 5 Fergus Marsden 6 Jason Merrie 7 Elliott Knight 8 Ben Stringer 16 Jack Malthouse 17 Jack Pilcher 18 Harvey Keighley-Payne

Scorers  
Callum Harriott-Brown 2 try  Jason Merrie 1 try  Dan Cole 1 try  Saif Boussaada 1 try  Alex McFaden 1 try  Chris Johnson 5 cons  1 pen

Report
Heath travelled along the M62 heading for Heslam Park the home of Scunthorpe for a first ever League visit, looking to get back to winning ways against a team who were desperate for points to move clear of the relegation places. The Coaching Team made several changes to the squad bringing in Dan Cole at 10 and, following the late withdrawal of Eddie Cartwright due to injury, Sam Fletcher moved to full back with Chris Johnson taking the inside centre role. Paul Turner returned at prop and Saif Boussaada also had a start, replacing Matt Beasty; while on the bench it was a welcome return for Harvey Keighley-Payne who sat alongside Jack Pilcher and Jack Malthouse. It was also good to see the return of Syd Sales to the coaching team taking his usual position patrolling the touchline.

Conditions were ideal as both teams took to the field.  The home side kicked off and put the visitors under immediate pressure. Scunthorpe were intent in putting on a good show for the large crowd and opened their account in the second minute with a converted try to lead 7-0. Not the best of starts for Heath and their loyal band of supporters but they managed to control the onslaught and eventually found a way to enter their opponents half following a surging run from Jason Merrie who linked up with Chris Moore before releasing Callum Harriott-Brown who was held just short of the try-line.

Then, out of nowhere, Scunthorpe broke free running the length of the field to touchdown in the corner. The conversion hit the post but Heath were up against it with a score of 12-0 with eight minutes played. Once again Heath tried to respond but the home side were in no mood to let them cross the try-line. Heath were patient, keeping the ball in hand and probing the home defence. Paul Turner and Fergus Marsden made valuable yardage but Scunthorpe were in no mood to concede.

However, the pressure told and on twenty minutes the break came. Callum Harriott-Brown was on hand to round off a superb move for a touchdown in the corner and Heath were back in the game 12-5. From the re-start Fergus Marsden was on hand to collect a high kick from Dom Walsh and it was Scunthorpe who were now on the back foot desperate to hold on to  their slender lead. Following a run from Chris Johnson he released the supporting Jason Merrie who touched down for a try, converted by Chris Johnson and the scores were level 12-12 with twenty- five minutes played.

The game was now wide open as the home side responded with some fine attacking play and were rewarded with a converted try on the half hour mark to lead 19-12.

Time for Jack Pilcher and Harvey Keighley-Payne to enter the arena, replacing Elliott Knight and Chris Moore, and both were quickly involved in the battle. Heath now went in search of another score but they had to wait until the final minutes of the half. Once again Jason Merrie made valuable yardage before linking up with Jordan Bradbrook and the supporting Sam Fletcher who slipped a pass to Dan Cole to go over for a great team try, converted by Chris Johnson and the scores were level 19-19. With Heath now playing some excellent rugby Saif Boussaada was on hand to score a fourth try once again converted by Chris Johnson and Heath led 26-19 as the referee blew for half time. 

The start of the second half saw Heath pick up where they left off and following two big hits from Harvey Keighley-Payne and Fergus Marsden the ball came across to the flying wingman that is 'Clum' and he scored in the corner, again converted by Chris Johnson and Heath seemed in the clear at 33-19. However, Scunthorpe had other ideas and following a yellow card for Elliott Spiers they took advantage scoring a try on fifty minute mark 33-24. The game was now a real battle but despite Heath dominating the scrums they could not find a way through.

Spiers returned to the action as did Jack Malthouse who replaced Callum Harriott-Brown. A penalty conversion from Chris Johnson, on the hour mark, saw Heath pull clear 36-24 as the game continued to ebb and flow. Jason Merrie left the field with an injury replaced by Elliott Knight and Chris Moore returned for Paul Turner with fifteen minutes left to play. Both sides continued to look for an opening as Callum Harriott-Brown returned for an injured Sam Fletcher with ten minutes left to play. With the physios working overtime on the battle scarred players Jack Pilcher had to leave the field replaced by Paul Turner. Heath now began to turn the screw and, after Fergus Marsden won a lineout ball near the home sides touchline, Alex McFaden was on hand to power over for a try, converted by Chris Johnson to increase the visitors lead to 43-24 with five minutes left to play.

This was a relief for the Heath supporters but Scunthorpe were not finished yet and after another Heath onslaught they broke free to score a converted try 43-31 then with injury time being played broke free again and looked to have scored before a great cover defence put the ball out of play and the referee blew for full time.

Heath had secured a vital win against a side who never gave up the challenge. The result sees Scunthorpe move out of the relegation places with Heath maintaining the pressure on Driffield and next week's visitors to North Dean, Alnwick. Miss it if you dare!!!!!

League Results for this weekend here.

Table here.

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