HEATH SECURE OPENING DAY WIN TO SECURE MAXIMUM POINTS

Selection
15 Sam Fletcher 14 Elliott Spiers 13 Tom Clough 12 Ezra Hinchliffe 11 Callum Harriott-Brown 10 Chris  Johnson 9 Dom  Walsh 1 Olly Cook 2 Alex McFadden 3 Chris Moore 4 Saif Boussaada 5 Fergus Marsden 6 Elliott Knight 7 Harvey Keighley Payne 8 Ben Stringer 16 Dan Cole 17 Stephen Hare 18 Josh Crickmay

Scorers
Sam Fletcher 1 try Tom Clough 1 try  Ben Stringer 2 tries   Chris Johnson 2 pens 3 cons

Report
Heath entertained Ilkley in their first game of the season and had a few changes to the team who finished runners up in the league last time around. Ezra Hinchliffe returned to the Club after a spell at Caldy and slotted in alongside another new signing Tom Clough, who arrived from Laund Hill, to form a new centre partnership. On the bench sat ex Colt captain Stephen Hare, who returned having played at Sheffield and new prop Josh Crickmay from Darlington Mowden Park, alongside Dan Cole.

The last meeting between the teams was back in March when the game was in doubt due to the pitch being covered in snow but, thanks to the efforts of all connected to the club clearing the pitch, the game went ahead.  Today conditions were perfect with bright sunshine and a perfect surface to entertain the large crowd that had gathered and who were expectant of yet another close encounter.

Heath opted to play towards the river end as the visitors kicked deep to start the game. Newly appointed captain Harvey Keighley Payne collected the ball and immediately drove into the on-rushing forwards before the ball came out to Tom Clough who made good yardage before releasing Sam Fletcher to set off on a jinking run. In support was Elliott Knight who just failed to collect and the move broke down. Heath continued to pull the visitors defence apart in the opening period with their pack dictating in the scrum but Ilkley were in determined mood and Heath settled for a penalty conversion from Chris Johnson, 3-0 with seven minutes on the clock.

Heath continued to press but the visitors defence was not going to concede and eventually they found a way back into the game and it was the home side to be put under the cosh. A break from Ilkley was stopped by a superb cover tackle from Sam Fletcher with Callum Harriott-Brown backing up and so preventing a certain try from the visitors. Heath's response was brilliant, starting with a charge from Saif Boussaada. In support was Ezra Hinchliffe who set off on a mazy run before releasing Sam Fletcher and the full back sped to the corner for a try, converted by Chris Johnson and Heath led 10-0 with thirty minutes on the clock.

Josh Crickmay and Stephen Hare replaced Chris Moore and Elliott Knight as Ilkley mounted yet another attack, but the home side were in determined mood and were solid in defence. They responded and once again became encamped in the visitors 25 and drives from Saif Boussaada with Josh Crickmay following up, the ball was scooped up by Tom Clough who still had work to do before touching down for his first try at the club. The reliable boot of Chris Johnson converted and  with five minutes remaining Heath led 17-0.

Much to Ilkley's credit they mounted yet another attack and, unfortunately, Stephen Hare received a leg injury and had to leave the field with Elliott Knight returning as the half time whistle sounded. The half had been a great advert for the game with both sides fully committed.  

It was a somewhat scrappy start to the second half as Olly Cook left the field with Chris Moore returning. Elliott Knight received a yellow card on fifty minutes and Ilkley took advantage pressing the home side defence but once again they made mistakes when a score was there for the taking and Heath cleared the danger. Sam Fletcher came off for Dan Cole as Heath re-organised and Ilkley seized their chance. A superb kick found touch 5 metres out and from the catch and drive Archie Medway powered over. Charlie Morgan added the extras and Ilkley were back in the game 17-7 with twenty minutes left to play.

Some slick passing from the home side saw the visitors under pressure, they had a player sin binned and from the resulting penalty Chris Johnson converted 20-7. Olly Cook returned for the injured Fergus Marsden but with Heath back to full strength the home side began to  turn the screw.

However, Ilkley were not to be denied and following a break were rewarded with an unconverted try from Adam Booth, 20-12. The game was now finely balanced but a clever dink from Chris Johnson saw the visitors bundle the ball into touch. A great throw from Alex McFadden enabled Ben Stringer to catch and drive over for an unconverted score, 25-12, and the home side now went in search of a bonus point try.

Ilkley continued to work hard also looking for a bonus point but with injury time being played Tom Clough went on a superb run.  When the ball came back across the line up stepped Ben Stringer to drive forwards and an out-stretched arm resulted in the try, converted by Johnson, to secure the win 32-12 as the referee blew for full time.

It had been a thoroughly entertaining game with both sides fully committed but it was Heath who took the spoils and sit top of the league. Only another twenty-one of the same to go!!!!!!!!

Next week, away v Harrogate.
 

Extra photos from Andy Keighley

Heath now top of the Table !!

Today's Results:  Here.

League Table:  Here.

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