HEATH SECURE VITAL FIVE POINT HAUL AGAINST ALNWICK TO MOVE INTO TOP SPOT

Selection

15 Dan Cole 14 Elliott Spiers 13 Callum Harriott-Brown 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 Jonny Cole 7 Harvey Keighley-Payne 8 Tom Clough 16 Jack Malthouse 17 Peter Hampshire 18 Olly Cook

Scorers

1 Pen try Elliott Spiers 2 try Olly Cook 1 try Ezra Hinchliffe 1 try Callum Harriott-Brown 1 try
Chris Johnson 3 cons

Report

Heath made the long trek north to take on Alnwick in what was a crucial game in the chase to finish in top spot. Captain Harvey Keighley-Payne returned to the starting line up with Peter Hampshire taking a turn on the bench and Callum Harriott-Brown was preferred at centre with Jack Malthouse on the bench and Olly Cook making up the trio.

Conditions were ideal as the large crowd, swelled by a huge contingent of Heath supporters, many of whom were making it a week-end occasion, greeted both teams. Heath were looking to avoid Alnwick completing the double, following their win at North Dean in February, and had the perfect start to the game when Chris Johnson charged down an attempted clearance and gave chase. As he looked to collect and score he was bundled off the pitch illegally and the referee had no option but to award a penalty try and give a yellow card to the offending Alnwick player. 7-0 with ninety seconds on the clock.

Alnwick responded following the re-start by putting Heath under pressure and were rewarded with a converted try after seven minutes, 7-7 and it was game on!

Alnwick became encamped in the Heath 22 but some sterling defensive work from the visitors prevented any further score and when Chris Johnson put his foot through the ball with a massive clearance, Heath returned to the home side's 22. Harvey Keighley-Payne was next to show with a jinking run supported by Ezra Hinchliffe and as Alnwick struggled to contain the Heath onslaught they conceded another penalty. Heath opted for the scrum and when Tom Clough collected the ball he peeled off to power through to the try-line but was held short of a score. Keighley-Payne, Callum Harriott-Brown and Jonny Cole were in support  as Heath looked to open up the home defence and when Heath won line out ball Dom Walsh spun a pass out to Dan Cole who passed it on to Elliott Spiers and the wingman sped over for an unconverted try, 12-7 with twenty five minutes played.

The crowd were engrossed in what was a tense game as both sides went in search of adding to their score. A clever kick over the home defence saw Callum Hariot-Brown give chase, supported by Ezra Hinchliffe and Joe Morrison but the danger was cleared. Olly Cook came on for Josh Crickmay on the half hour mark as both sides continued to batter each other. The deadlock was broken when Heath won line-out ball ten metres from the home try-line and, following the drive, Olly Cook emerged with the ball  for a third try, converted by Johnson and Heath led 19-7.

Crickmay returned to the action as Chris Moore left the field as Alnwick mounted yet another onslaught into the Heath half. Despite their efforts to get another score they could only conjure up a converted penalty with the last kick of the game for a half time score of 19-10.

It had been a superb half of rugby which entertained the large crowd but it was the Heath contingent of supporters who were the happiest.

The second half began with Heath receiving the ball and Chris Johnson punting it downfield. The charge was on as Heath looked to add to their score. Line outs were won by Ben Stringer as the forwards drove to the try-line and from scrummages the visiting forwards were dominant. Peter Hampshire came on for Tom Clough as Heath continued to be in control and following superb handling from the Heath back line Elliott Spiers was on hand to score his second try of  the game, converted by Chris Johnson and Heath extended their lead to 26-10 with fifty-five minutes played.

Credit to Alnwick whose response was immediate putting the visitors defence under pressure but a mistake in the visitors 22 saw Ezra Hinchliffe pounce on the ball and run the full length of the field to score a converted try to extend the lead to 33-10.

Chris Moore returned as Josh Crickmay had a break but following a lapse of concentration Heath allowed Alnwick to go over for a converted try, 33-17, with sixty-five minutes played. This seemed to inspire the home side as Jack Malthouse came on for Callum Harriott-Brown and when Harvey Keighley-Payne received a yellow the Heath faithful were hoping they could hold on the lead. Alnwick had picked up a gear and were in full flow with Heath having players injured as the clock wound down and with Alnwick encamped on the Heath try-line. Joe Morrison had to leave the field injured so Callum Harriott-Brown returned but when Chris Johnson slipped a pass to Ezra Hinchliffe on the Heath try-line the centre released Jack Malthouse who evaded several attempted tackles before slipping the ball to Elliott Spiers on the half way line. The wingman then sped off evading tackles before slipping the ball to a supporting Callum Harriott-Brown, who ran twenty metres to score the try of the game, if not the season, to cement the lead, 38-17 with minutes remaining.

However, Alnwick had the last word following the re-start they hit back with a converted try but the game was won and when the final whistle sounded Heath had secured a five point haul with a 38-24 scoreline in what had been a thoroughly enthralling encounter between two exceptional sides.

The win takes Heath to the top of the table, three points ahead of second place Harrogate, who ground out a hard earned 7-5 win away to Doncaster Phoenix. Harrogate's game in hand is next Friday, at home to Phoenix, then it is all down to the final weekend of games on April 6th when Heath travel to Ilkley and Harrogate entertain Driffield. What a finish to the season and no doubt there will be another large contingent of Heath supporters travelling over the game hoping to cheer the boys on to another win. See you there!!!! 

League Results, here.

League Table, here.

You are about to navigate away from the Heath RUFC website. Heath RUFC is not responsible for the content of this external site and does not monitor other web sites for accuracy.

Again, we had the support of two excellent photographers at the match.  Andy Keighley and Bev Clough.  Thanks go to them.

You can view some of their shots, here, on our site.  All Bev's photos can be seen on her Facebook page, here. You are about to navigate away from the Heath RUFC website. Heath RUFC is not responsible for the content of this external site and does not monitor other web sites for accuracy.