OUTSTANDING DEFENCE SECURES  VICTORY FOR HEATH OVER BELEAGURED PONTEFRACT

Selection
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 Josh Crickmay 4 Saif Boussaada 5 Peter Hampshire 6 Ben Stringer 7 Harvey Keighley-Payne 8 Tom Clough 16 Dan Fleming 17 Chris Johnson 18 Chris Moore

Scorers
Joe Morrison 1 try Josh Crickmay 1 try   Adam Brook 1 try     
 Ezra Hinchliffe 1 pen Chris Johnson 1 con

Report
Heath made the short journey down the M62 to take on Pontefract, looking to get a positive result to keep the pressure on at the top of the table and prevent the home side from completing a double.

Dan Fleming returned on the bench in an otherwise unchanged team.

Bright sunshine greeted the players as they entered the field which was in perfect condition as Heath kicked off playing towards the clubhouse end. Early exchanges saw both sides kicking for position but Pontefract had a chance to take the lead with a penalty on three minutes which sailed wide. Heath responded with some excellent play from Tom Clough which led to some confident handling across the line before it reached Callum Harriott-Brown who was tackled just short of the try-line.

The home side responded with a second penalty attempt on twenty minutes but once again an easy chance was missed. Pontefract were now pressing for a score and Saif Boussaada received a yellow which put the visitors under more pressure. Despite the pressure, when Heath were in control of the ball they were playing some slick rugby and from one move they were awarded a penalty and up stepped Ezra Hinchliffe to show how to convert a kick and Heath led 3-0 with thirty minutes on the clock. Olly Cook was replaced by Chris Moore as the battle continued and an injury to Peter Hampshire saw Dan Fleming enter the combat as half time arrived.

It had been a real battle for both sides but Heath took their chances and deserved to be in the lead.

The second half began with Heath taking the game to their opponents and in the first scrum they drove the Ponty pack back fifteen metres before being awarded a penalty. Dan Cole found touch and from the line out Boussaada collected and drove for the line. Pontefract were frantically trying to kill the ball but quick hands pulled the home defence apart and as the ball came across to Joe Morrison he rounded off a superb move to score in the corner, 8-0 with fifty minutes on the clock.

Chris Johnson replaced Dom Walsh as Dan Cole moved to full back and Adam Brook slotted in at scrum half. Heath continued to be in control and a superb run from Tom Clough saw Pontefract scamble back to tackle him just short of the try-line, with Adam Brook in support. The home side were clinging on but a frail defence enabled Brook to break and slip the ball to the supporting Josh Crickmay who dived over for a try on fifty-five minutes. Johnson's attempted conversion saw the ball hit the upright but Heath fully deserved their lead, 13-0.

Olly Cook returned for Crickmay as the home side mounted a response and they had their first real attack in the second half on the hour mark. Ponty continued to try and find a way through a solid Heath defence  as a series of cards followed for Heath. Moore received the first with Cole leaving and Crickmay returning for the next scrum as Ponty became encamped on the Heath try-line.

Next up Tom Clough was off with ten minutes remaining but still the home side could not break  down the Heath defence as they put their bodies on the line. Moore returned before Peter Hampshire was carded but continued battering from Ponty failed to get them on the score sheet. Then deep into injury time Heath, after an outstanding defensive effort, broke free and superb play from the backs saw Adam Brook  score a try, converted by Chris Johnson and a final score of 20-0 was just reward for the players and the loyal band of supporters as the referee sounded the final whistle to end the game.

Credit must go to the eighteen players who pulled on the Heath shirt today. They put their bodies on the line and once again prevented a team from scoring a try. The last team to do this were Harrogate a superb achievement. The win sees Heath move up to second spot in the league as York maintain top spot with Harrogate in third and Driffield fourth. Next week it is the re-arranged game at home to fifth place Alnwick before the BIG battle against leaders York at the end of the month. See you there!!  

League Results here.

League Table here.

More Photos from Bev Clough & Andy Keighley, here.

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