MORRISON HAT TRICK OF TRIES SECURES VITAL WIN FOR HEATH

Selection
15 Sam Fletcher 14 Elliott Spiers 13 Jack Malthouse 12 Ezra Hinchliffe 11 Joe Morrison 10 Dan Cole 9 Dom Walsh 1 Olly Cook 2 Alex McFadden 3 Chris Moore 4 Saif Boussaada 5 Peter Hampshire 6 Dan Fleming 7 Harvey Keighley-Payne 8 Ben Stringer 16 Adam Brook 17 Elliot Knight 18 Jack Pilcher

Scorers
Joe Morrison 3 tries   Harvey Keighley-Payne 1 try Jack Malthouse 1 try Ezra Hinchliffe 2 pens 3 cons

Report
Heath entertained mid-table Doncaster Phoenix, looking to extend their winning run in the league. Chris Johnson was injured so Dan Cole moved to 10 with Sam Fletcher returning at full back. On the bench, new signing Adam Brook sat alongside Elliot Knight and Jack Pilcher.

In glorious sunny conditions, following a minutes silence as a mark of respect for Remembrance Day, Phoenix kicked off with Heath playing towards the Stainland Road end and the home side got into their stride quickly as Ezra Hinchliffe converted a penalty with three minutes played, 3-0.

However, the lead was short lived as Phoenix converted their own penalty 3-3 with five minutes on the clock. It was a frantic start as both sides looked for openings and when Saif Boussaada collected the ball, his surging run enabled Dom Walsh to put in a clever kick which was chased down by Joe Morrison who danced over the line for the opening try, converted by Hinchliffe and Heath led 10-3 with ten minutes played.

Phoenix responded with some damaging runs but Heath were in no mood to concede and when Sam Fletcher broke he was supported by Harvey Keighley-Payne and Ben Stringer and it was Phoenix who were now under pressure and in desperation had a player carded. Heath took advantage as Dan Cole found touch from the penalty and, as the ball was won, Captain Harvey Keighley-Payne drove over for a try. A superb conversion from Hinchliffe saw Heath in control at 17-3 with twenty-five minutes on the clock.

From the re-start, Phoenix missed an easy penalty and a huge clearance from Dan Cole left Phoenix isolated at the back.  Joe Morrison chased the ball down and Doncaster's full back had no option but to give away a penalty, which saw him carded. Phoenix were in disarray and from a scrum in the corner the ball moved swiftly across the backs and Joe Morrison finished off the move with an unconverted try, 22-3 on the half hour mark.

Jack Pilcher came on for Olly Cook as Phoenix mounted an attack to try and claw their way back into the game and two quick yellows for Dom Walsh and Jack Pilcher saw Heath having to put in some heroic defending before the visitors capitalised with a try, deep into injury time; 22-8 as the half time whistle sounded.

The start of the second half saw Walsh return but Phoenix pressure saw Ben Stringer carded and the visitors capitalised with a converted try and Heath were on the back foot at 22-15. Jack Pilcher replaced Olly Cook as Heath tried to re-group and were rewarded with a penalty conversion from Ezra Hinchliffe, 25-15 with fifty minutes played. Back came the visitors and, much to the amazement of the crowd, following yellows for Hampshire and Moore, a penalty try was awarded to Phoenix and they were back in the game 25-22 on the hour mark.

Adam Brook replaced Sam Fletcher and Heath tried frantically to stem the onslaught. Hampshire returned with Heath keeping possession and waiting for an opportunity, as they returned to full complement. Phoenix had their chance but were now flagging and as Dan Flemming, Chris Moore, Saif Boussaada and Jack Pilcher battered a frail defence it was only a matter of time before Heath would add to their tally.

From a line out, Peter Hampshire collected the ball and a huge surge forwards saw Dom Walsh pass to the supporting Joe Morrison who danced in for a hat-trick try 30-22 with minutes left to play. From the re-start Jack Pilcher collected the ball and drove forwards as Heath went in search of adding to their tally and, as the ball came along the line, Jack Malthouse was on hand to score the final try, in the corner, converted by Ezra Hinchliffe to finish the game on a high, 37-22.

The score reflected an enthralling game where Phoenix tried had worked hard to keep in the game but Heath's fitness levels proved pivotal in the final period of the match. Maximum league points keeps the pressure on York and Harrogate in the top three with a visit to fourth place Driffield next week, followed by a home game against second place York - surely games not to be missed. See you there! 

No Bev Clough this week, but Andy Keighley took some very good photos.  Check them out here.

League Results:  Here.

League Table:  Here.

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