DISSAPPOINTING DEFEAT FOR HEATH 

Selection
15 Dan Cole 14 Elliott Spiers 13 Jack Malthouse 12 Ezra Hinchliffe 11 Joe Morrison 10 Chris Johnson 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 Elliot Knight 17 Sam Fletcher 18 Jack Pilcher

Scorers
Ezra Hinchliffe 1 try  Saif Boussaada 1 try        Chris Johnson 1 pen  Ezra Hinchliffe 1 con

Report
Heath travelled over to East Yorkshire to take on Driffield with both sides looking to keep in touch with the top two as we approach the half-way point of the season. Chris Johnson returned to the starting line up in the only change to the side. 

Driffield kicked off and Heath secured the ball and began to take on the home defence. They were rewarded with a converted penalty from Johnson after only two minutes played and when Driffield had a player carded in the third minute Heath began to take control of the game. Chris Moore, Olly Cook and Saif Boussaada were making inroads into the home defence, followed by some superb handling along the backs and Driffields covering defence prevented a certain try in the corner.

It had been a superb start for Heath but they were brought down back to earth after a penalty from Driffield found touch. From the line out they drove hard into the visitors defence scoring an un-converted try to take the lead 5-3 with twelve minutes played. The home side were beginning to find their feet and were putting Heath under pressure.

In yet another onslaught Chris Johnson was carded as Driffield began to take control, but Heath were in defiant mood and when an Ezra Hinchliffe clearance kick found touch an opportunity arose for the visitors. On the half hour, mark Jack Pilcher came on for Olly Cook and when Hinchliffe kicked a clever ball over the home defence Joe Morrison set off in chase. He charged down the attempted clearance, secured the ball and released the supporting Hinchliffe who went over for a converted try and Heath led 10-5.

Chris Johnson returned and Elliot Knight replaced Dan Fleming, for Heath, as Driffield re-grouped and began to look to add to their tally. They were rewarded with a penalty, 10-8 but with time ticking by there was no further score as the half time whistle sounded. It had been a thoroughly absorbing half for the large crowd as the players went in for a deserved break.

The start of the second half saw the home side come out all guns blazing to batter the Heath defence and they were rewarded with a converted try on forty-five minutes to take the lead 15-10. Heath were putting their bodies on the line and Ben Stringer and Jack Malthouse had to be replaced by Sam Fletcher and Dan Fleming but they were powerless to prevent Driffield adding another converted try on fifty minutes 22-10 and the game was slipping away from Heath.

An injury to Chris Johnson saw Jack Malthouse return as Heath looked to claw their way back into the game. A super run from Joe Morrison set up a rare Heath attack and when Saif Boussaada collected the ball on the home side's 22, he powered through several attempted tackles to cross for a try 22-15 and Heath were back in the game with twenty minutes to play.

Heath were now in control and keeping possession.  As they looked to add to their score Driffield were put under pressure but, following a dropped ball, they fly kicked through and the chase was on. Driffield won the race scoring an unconverted try to extend their lead to 27-15 with ten minutes left to play.

This seemed to deflate Heath and Driff' quickly followed up with another try for a final score of 32-15. Heath were still looking to add to their score, but with time running out it was Driffield who had secured an important win.

With a strong second half performance Driffield deserved to win as they were clinical in finishing. Heath will be disappointed with the result but with a break in the programme they will be looking to re-group before preparing for back-to-back home games against Alnwick and Harrogate.

See you there!!

Today's League Results here.

League Table here.

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