HEATH GRIND OUT WIN AGAINST SPIRITED SCUNTHORPE

Selections
15 Adam Brook 14 Joe Morrison 13 Jack Malthouse 12 Ezra Hinchliffe 11 Callum Harriott-Brown 10 Dan Cole 9 Dom Walsh 1 Olly Cook 2 Alex McFadden 3 Chris Moore 4 Saif Boussaada 5 Peter Hampshire 6 Ben Stringer 7 Harvey Keighley-Payne 8 Tom Clough 16 Elliot Knight 17 Chris Johnson 18 Josh Crickmay

Scorers
Joe Morrison 1 try  Ezra Hinchliffe 2 pens  Chris Johnson 1 con

Report
Heath returned to action after the festive break when they entertained Scunthorpe and were looking to secure a win to prevent the visitors from completing a double. Coach Harry had to make one change due to Jack Pilcher being unavailable due to work commitments so drafted in Elliot Knight who had a place on the bench.

Bright sunshine greeted the players as they entered the field, which looked in remarkably good condition following the deluge of rain over the holiday period. Heath kicked off playing towards the Stainland Road end but it was the visitors who started more confidently and were quickly putting the Heath defence under pressure becoming encamped in the Heath 22. Heath struggled to come to terms with the onslaught and Scunthorpe were rewarded with a penalty conversion to take the lead,3-0 with thirteen minutes played.

It wasn’t until a quarter of the game had been played that Heath managed to put pressure on the visitors' defence. A superb kick from Dan Cole found touch in the corner and when Heath won line-out ball they strung together a number of passes before Saif Boussadda received the ball and was then fouled - resulting in a penalty which Ezra Hinchliffe converted to level the scores, 3-3. This seemed to inspire Heath into action as they probed the visitors defence and when Adam Brook pushed through with a clever kick, the Heath players gave chase but the ball found touch. The visitors responded, but Heath now looked in control of the game.

On the half hour mark Josh Crickmay came on for Olly Cook, as Heath were pressing for a score.  But some heroic tackling from Scunthorpe saw the visitors clear their defensive lines and an opportunity for Heath was lost. As the visitors pressed the home defence, Alex McFadden collected the ball and set off on a superb run before passing to Callum Harriott-Brown, who sped past the Scunny players, before kicking through and the chase was on. Scunthorpe had no option but to give away a penalty and up stepped Ezra Hinchliffe to convert and take Heath into the lead 6-3 with the half time whistle sounding shortly after.

It had been a disappointing half for Heath and their faithful supporters but, credit to Scunthorpe, who had battled hard but could not break down a solid home defence.

The second half began with Scunthorpe continuing to press for a score. With only five minutes played Chris Johnson and Elliot Knight replaced Adam Brook and Peter Hampshire and from Johnson's first kick he found touch five metres from the visitors line and a chance for Heath had arrived. A period of pressure from the home side resulted and when Johnson and Dan Cole linked up, Cole released Joe Morrison who managed to twist and turn through some strong cover tackling, before touching down for the opening try, converted by Johnson and Heath led 13-3 with fifty minutes on the clock.

Heath were now on the front pedal but they could not get through a resilient defence and it was Scunthorpe who began to look dangerous. Heath had a chance to increase their lead but an easy penalty was missed which was a let off for Scunny.

Olly Cook returned for Chris Moore as the visitors continued to press and Heath were fortunate to hold on to the lead when a move from the visitors broke down following a dropped pass with a try begging. Scunthorpe did not give up as they went looking for a losing bonus point but a missed penalty conversion saw Heath hold on to secure the win.

The game was a real battle as both sides struggled to get back into the groove following a three week lay-off. Scunthorpe battled all the way, but the result sees them sink to the bottom of the league, while the win for Heath pushes them up to third position in what is developing into a tight battle.

Next week it's a trip over to Pontefract, who seem to be struggling with injuries, but Heath will still  have to be on their guard if they are to continue their winning run. See you there!!! 

League Results here.

League Tale here.

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As well as Garf' taking photos. Bev Clough was there and Vic Heritage also came by.  Their photos can be seen in a separate News Item, here.