SUPERB DISPLAY FROM HEATH SEES DRIFFIELD DISPACHED TO CLAIM TOP SPOT

 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 Peter Hampshire 6 Ben Stringer 7 Jonny Cole 8 Tom Clough 16 Callum Harriott-Brown 17 Elliot Knight 18 Olly Cook

Scorers      

Joe Morrison 1 try Chris Johnson 1 try  Chris Johnson 1 con 1 pen

Report
Second place Heath entertained fourth place Driffield, who arrived at North Dean looking to complete the double after a comfortable win at Kellythorpe back in November, in what was billed as the game of the day in Region 1 North East fixture programme.

Heath had to make several changes to the side due to unavailability. Chris Moore returned at prop, following recovery from concussion and Jonny Cole had a start for captain Harvey Keighley-Payne. On the bench Callum Harriott-Brown returned, following injury, and sat alongside Olly Cook and Elliot Knight.  

Conditions were ideal, following heavy rain during the week, as Heath kicked off playing towards the Stainland Road end and they quickly put the visitors under pressure. Chris Moore was first to a ball as Driffield struggled to adjust and when Tom Clough went on a run, making valuable yardage, a score looked imminent but Driffield held out. Next up, Chris Johnson and Ezra Hinchliffe linked well but Hinchliffe was unable to collect the pass and a chance for a score had gone. It wasn’t until the fifteenth minute that Driffield entered the Heath half but the attack was quickly squashed as Johnson's clever kick set up Heath's next attack.  Heath had a line-out stolen by Driffield, who cleared the ball, but it landed in the hands of Joe Morrison who set off on a run and, against all the odds, managed to squirm his way through the visitors defence to go over for a try and Heath led 5-0 with eighteen minutes played.

Credit to the visitors who responded with another sustained attack but Heath's defence was rock solid and when Tom Clough once again made valuable ground, Heath were back on the attack.

On the half hour mark the pace of the game had increased, with both sides putting their bodies on the line, but when Clough received a yellow card Heath were under pressure. Driffield put pressure on the home defence, who conceded a couple of penalties, and perhaps Driffield took the wrong options by opting for scrums instead of putting points on the board. It was heroic defence from the home side and when Morrison went on a run to clear the lines Dan Cole was in support and his huge kick cleared the danger and Heath had survived.

Olly Cook came on for Chris Moore and he was quickly into action as Heath found touch in the corner. From the resulting line-out Seif Boussaada collected the ball, which went across the line of backs reaching Jack Malthouse who made a super break before releasing to Ezra Hinchliffe, who slotted it to Chris Johnson to cross the try-line for a superb try. Johnson converted and Heath led 12-0. Half time was approaching as Clough returned to the action and Elliot Knight came on for Peter Hampshire and Heath had the final say of the half as Chris Johnson converted a penalty with the final kick of the half.  Heath fully deserved their lead 15-0.

Driffield made the better start to the second half, but still could not break down a resilient home defence. Jack Malthouse came off as Callum Harriott-Brown returned to action and he was quickly involved in the next onslaught of the visitors defence.  The game ebbed and flowed with both sides going close for a score and injuries were abundant.  On fifty-five minutes Josh Crickmay left the field with an arm injury, replaced by Chris Moore and then on the hour mark Jonny Cole left the field replaced by Peter Hampshire.

With Heath encamped in the Driffield 22, Chris Moore, somewhat suprisingly received a yellow and Heath were up against it again. Driffield went back on the attack but from a loose ball Ben Stringer pounced and the danger was cleared. Heath continued to hold out as Driffield were desperate for a score, but with Chris Johnson's and Dan Cole's massive clearances it was Heath who now went in search of adding to their tally. Driffield were now under pressure as Heath kept possession and wound the clock down to secure a vital win.

The result saw Heath move up to top spot in the league and with Harrogate also winning they are now second two points behind Heath. York were hammered away to Scunthorpe and drop to third with Driffield still in fourth. Harrogate have a game in hand and take on Doncaster Phoenix in the next two rounds with the South Yorkshire team desperate for survival and had a good win at Ilkley to keep their hopes alive.

Next up for Heath is a trip to Northumberland to take on Alnwick before they finish their league programme away to Ilkley. What a finish to the league programme so see you at Alnwick!!!!

League Results here.

League Table here.

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Photography.  This week we had the services of Bev Clough, Vic Heritage and Garf '.  Plus the Courier Photographer came along as well.