DISAPPOINTING DEFEAT FOR HEATH AS ALNWICK HOLD OUT FOR WIN

Selection
15 Elliott Spiers 14 Jake Haynes 13 Ezra Hinchliffe 12 Chris Johnson 11 Joe Morrison 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 Elliott Knight 8 Tom Clough 16 Jack Malthouse 17 Elliott Knight 18 Chris Moore 

Scorers
Jake Haynes 1 try  Tom Clough 1 try   Josh Crickmay 1 try  Dom Walsh 1 try     Chris Johnson 4 cons

Report
Heath entertained Alnwick on a date originally scheduled as free by the RFU and this had an effect on selection with several players unavailable due to other commitments. There was a debut for Jake Haynes, who had been putting in some sterling performances with the Hawks, starting on the wing with Elliott Spiers reverting to full back. The forwards saw starts for Olly Cook, Peter Hampshire and Elliott Knight with the bench made up of Jack Malthouse, Chris Moore and Alex Patrick.

Heavy rain throughout the week made the pitch heavy but glorious sunshine greeted the teams with a large crowd hopeful of a home win to keep the pressure on at the top of the table. Heath kicked off playing towards the Stainland Road end but it was the visitors who made a strong start and, following a misunderstanding in the Heath 22, Alnwick pounced scoring a converted try to take the lead 7-0 with three minutes on the clock.

Heath managed to re-group and from the first scrum they powered forward and Ben Stringer picked up and scurried towards the try-line before the visitors defence covered. Next, a penalty from Chris Johnson saw him find touch in the corner and, after Stringer soared high to collect the ball, the pack drove towards the visitors try-line but Alnwick were in defiant mood and cleared the danger.

The breakthrough for Heath came after twenty-five minutes. From a line out, won by Tom Clough, the ball came out to the Heath back line who moved it swiftly across the field, ending up in Jake Haynes hands and his turn of speed saw the wingman touchdown for a debut try, converted by Chris Johnson and Heath were level 7-7.

Alnwick responded with several charges into the home defence and on thirty minutes took the lead with a converted penalty, 10-7.

Olly Cook and Peter Hampshire made way for Chris Moore and Alex Patrick as Heath looked for another score, but it was the visitors who increased their lead with another penalty, 13-7. With half time approaching Heath mounted another onslaught into the Alnwick half. Haynes made solid yardage with a run, as did Joe Morrison, who was held up just short of the try-line.  But, when the ball came back to Tom Clough, who superbly dummied a pass and sped over for a try, converted by Johnson and Heath led 14-13 with ten minutes to half time.

However, the lead was short lived as Alnwick, from the re-start, took advantage of a rather static home defence scoring a converted try to take the lead again 20-14 and once again Heath had gifted the visitors another score with lazy, indecisive play. In the final minutes the crowd saw exactly how Heath can play. Dan Cole and Ezra Hinchliffe made ground, supported by Chris Moore and Alex Patrick, and Heath were finally keeping hold of the ball pulling the visitors defence apart. It came as no surprise the see Alnwick, who were struggling to keep the home side at bay, lose a player to the sin bin as Heath continued to press. From the resulting penalty kick to the corner the line-out was won by Tom Clough and the drive to the line saw Josh Crickmay emerge with the ball for a try, converted by Johnson, 21-20 as the half time whistle sounded.

It had been a frustrating half to watch for the Heath faithful with Alnwick gifted their scores by some inept play but when Heath kept possession of the ball they scored three excellent tries.

Heath began the second half in fine form as Jake Haynes once again tore through the visitors defence early on. Ezra Hinchliffe was quick to support and a great kick-pass out to Joe Morrison saw the wingman held just short of the visitors try-line. Heath support came and a pass to Hinchliffe saw the centre over-run the ball and a chance for a score had gone. With a man down Alnwick were struggling to contain Heath but once back to full strength they clawed their way back into the game.

Heath continued to kick the ball away and from one clearance Alnwick pounced with a converted try on fifty-five minutes, 27-21. Jack Malthouse, Peter Hampshire and Olly Cook came on for Dan Cole, Alex Patrick and Josh Crickmay as Heath looked to get back into the game but an injury to Ben Stringer saw Cole return.

On the hour mark Seif Boussaada received a card and Heath were up against it and chasing the game once again. Alnwick increased their lead with another penalty, 30-21, as Heath continued to look for an opening and a way back into the game. It needed something special and when line out ball was won it ball came out to Dom Walsh and a sublime dummy saw him dance over the try-line for a bonus point fourth try, converted by Chris Johnson 28-30 and game on with seven minutes left to play.

Boussaada returned but time was running out for the home side and after missing another chance for a score Alnwick held out to dent Heath's aspirations of securing the win.

A disappointing result for Heath but credit to Alnwick who, when the opportunities came, took full advantage and so secured the victory.

Although two defeats on the trot for Heath still see them maintain third spot in the league, with Harrogate's game against Doncaster Phoenix postponed, the North Yorkshire team have two games in hand over the others - with only five points separating the top four teams.

Next week Heath travel down to Doncaster Phoenix looking to get back to winning ways. Keep the faith and see you there!!!  

League Results here.

League Table here.

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Photos: No Andy or Bev this week, but we were Lucky to Have Vic Heritage, in attendance.  Some of photos are here, in a Rugby News item.