DERBY DEFEAT FOR HEATH AS CLECKHEATON HOLD OUT FOR WIN

Selection
15 Dan Cole 14 Elliott Spiers 13 Jack Malthouse 12 Ezra Hinchliffe 11 Joe Morrison 10 Chris Johnson 9 Dom Walsh 1 Chris Moore 2 Alex McFadden 3 Josh Crickmay 4 Saif Boussaada 5 Ben Stringer 6 Dan Fleming 7 Harvey Keighley-Payne 8 Tom Clough 16 Adam Brook 17 Jonny Cole 18 Jack Pilcher

Scorers
Joe Morrison 1 try    Harvey Keighley-Payne 1 try     Chris Johnson 2 cons  1 pen

Report

Heath entertained mid-table Cleckheaton looking to extend their winning run but came up against a side determined to put in a performance to prevent the home side from completing the double, after winning at Moorend back in November. Conditions were good and a large crowd greeted the teams looking to witness yet another derby battle.

The visitors kicked off playing towards the river end and Heath quickly got into their stride as they went looking for an early score. Dan Fleming and Tom Clough powered their way through a hesitant visitors' defence before a super run from Ezra Hinchliffe saw the centre scythe through the Cleck players before kicking through for Dom Walsh to chase but cover was on hand and the move came to an end. Next up, Josh Crickmay and Saif Boussaada made valuable yardage and, with Cleckheaton struggling, Chris Johnson converted a penalty and Heath led 3-0 with four minutes played.

This should have been the catalyst for Heath to add to their score but Cleckheaton managed to claw their way back into the game and levelled the scores after fifteen minutes with a penalty,3-3.

Heath responded with some slick rugby but the visitors had found their feet and defended well though they were powerless to prevent Heath from adding to their tally. Ben Stringer soared high to collect line-out ball and from the drive 'try machine' Joe Morrison scored in the corner, converted by Johnson and Heath led 10-3 with twenty-five minutes on the clock.

However, once again, the visitors responded and on the half hour mark scored an unconverted try to peg the score back to 10-8. Josh Crickmay and Dan Fleming made way for Jack Pilcher and Jonny Cole as the battle continued, but both defences were on top and there was no further score as the half time whistle sounded.

The second half saw Cleckheaton come out all guns blazing and they were rewarded with an early penalty conversion to take the lead 11-10. Crickmay and Fleming returned to the action with Jack Pilcher and Saif Boussaada having a break from the intense action and after the Heath forwards demolished the visitors pack from a scum, a run from Jack Malthouse set up an opportunity for a score. Chris Moore drove into the visitors defence, supported by Dan Fleming and up popped Harvey Keighley-Payne to power over for a try, converted by Chris Johnson and Heath re-took the lead 17-11 with fifty-five minutes played.

Back came the visitors as they looked for a score and on the hour mark, following a break on the half-way line, they split open the home defence scoring a converted try to re-take the lead 18-17.

It was now anyone's game as the pressure mounted. Chris Moore made way for Jack Pilcher but he was powerless to prevent Cleck from adding to their score with an unconverted try, 23-17 with seven minutes remaining.

Adam Brook and Saif Boussaada came on for Dom Walsh and Tom Clough and both were quickly into action as Heath pressed for a score but Cleckheaton were holding out. Next up a superb move across the visitors try-line saw the ball come out to Joe Morrison but the wing-man's desperate attempt to grab the ball saw him knock on and a certain try was cancelled out. In a final push from a line-out Ben Stringer gathered the ball and drove for the visitors try-line but dogged defence won the day and Cleckheaton had held on for the win to dent Heaths hopes.

It had been a typical derby battle with Cleckheaton battling all the way to snatch the win. Heath missed an opportunity to continue their six match unbeaten run and must now re-group and prepare for the visit of Alnwick next Saturday. See you there!! 
 

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