HEATH  STUNNED BY SCUNTHORPE WHO SECURE HOME WIN WITH FIVE TRY HAUL

Selection
15 Sam Fletcher 14 Elliott Spiers 13 Ezra Hinchliffe 12 Chris Johnson 11 Callum Harriott-Brown 10 Dan Cole 9 Dom Walsh 1 Chris Moore 2 Alex McFadden 3 Josh Crickmay 4 Saif Boussaada 5 Fergus Marsden 6 Ian Downsborough 7 Elliott Knight 8 Ben Stringer 16 Jack Malthouse 17 Joe Morrison 18 Olly Cook

Scorers
Ezra Hinchliffe 1 try   Saif Boussadda 1 try    Elliott Spiers 1 try    Jack Malthouse 1 try
 Chris Johnson 1 pen 4 cons  

Report
Heath travelled to Heslam Park to take on Scunthorpe ,who had lost their last two games after an opening day victory against Cleckheaton. Injuries to Harvey Keighley-Payne and Tom Clough saw the back line shuffled with Dan Cole having a start at 10 with Chris Johnson and Ezra Hinchliffe in a centre partnership. On the bench Joe Morrison and Jack Malthouse were drafted in from the Hawks alongside Olly Cook, who had recovered from a rib injury.

Heath kicked off and early exchanges saw the home side keep possession of the ball and from a break they scored an opening converted try to lead 7-0 in the third minute. Scunthorpe continued to make huge inroads into the visitors' defence, who were struggling and once again.  Following some poor defensive tackling from Heath, Scunthorpe added a second converted try, 14-0, with ten minutes played to stun the away supporters.

The home team were playing with bags of confidence as Heath continued to struggle to find form but there was a glint of hope on 15 minutes when Chris Johnson converted a penalty to reduce the arrears. However, this hope was short lived as Scunthorpe tore through a desperate Heath defence scoring a third try 19-3 with a quarter of the game played.

Heath needed to get to grips with the pace of the game and when Johnson found touch with a penalty from the line-out Saif Boussaada collected the ball. Chris Moore, Ben Stringer and Fergus Marsden drove towards the home try-line before the ball was spun out along the backs and Ezra Hinchliffe was on hand to cross for a try, converted by Chris Johnson and Heath were back in the game 19-10. Next up, following backchat from the home side, the resulting penalty enabled Johnson to find touch in the corner. Heath won the ball and drove towards the line where Saif Boussaada crossed for a converted try and Heath were back in the game 19-17 with thirty minutes played. Heath were now playing with confidence and fluidity and, following some slick handling, Elliott Spiers was on hand to round off a superb move with a try, once again converted by Chris Johnson and Heath led 24-19 for the first time in the game with five minutes left to half time.

Olly Cook replaced Chris Moore as Scunthorpe responded putting the visitors defence under pressure and when Ian Downsborough received a yellow card Heath were under the cosh. Eventually the pressure told and Scunthorpe were rewarded with a converted try, 26-24 as the half time whistle sounded.

Joe Morrison replaced Elliott Knight at the start of the second half as Heath continued to defend and when Downsborough returned, Heath had weathered the storm. Strong runs from Boussadda and Sam Fletcher saw Heath pressing to add to their score but an injury to Ben Stringer saw him replaced by Elliott Knight and as Heath adjusted Scunthorpe took advantage scoring a converted try to extend their lead 33-24.

Jack Malthouse replaced Dan Cole as Heath began to build the pressure on the home defence and when Fergus Marsden collected the line-out ball their forwards drove into the home defence. Scunthorpe prop was injured in the battle and Heath took advantage as Ezra Hinchliffe released Jack Malthouse to storm over the line for a try, converted by Chris Johnson and Heath were back in it at 33-31 with a quarter of the game left to play.

The game was even as Scunthorpe took advantage with a penalty conversion after seventy minutes, 36-31, but despite their efforts Heath were running out of time. Stringer, Cole and Moore returned to the action as Heath continued to press and when Heath were awarded a penalty the normally reliable Chris Johnson missed the easy conversion - which summed up Heaths day. Time was running out as Scunthorpe fought to hold on to secure the win and leave Heath with a lot of work to do on the training ground next week as they prepare for a home visit from Pontefract.

See you there!!!!!

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