Heath RUFC Halifax

Selection
15 Dan Cole 14 Elliott Spiers 13 Callum Harriott-Brown 12 Ezra Hinchliffe 11 Joe Morrison 10 Chris Johnson 9 Dom Walsh 1 Olly Cook 2 Alex Mc Fadden 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 Chris Moore

Scorers
Olly Cook 1 try Josh Crickmay 1 try Callum Harriott-Brown 2 tries Dom Walsh 1 try
Peter Hampshire 1 try Joe Morrison 1 try
Chris Johnson 2 cons 1 pen Ezra Hinchliffe 2 cons

Report
Heath travelled over to Ilkley, looking for a win to keep the pressure on at the top in the final league game of the season. The Coaches kept faith with an unchanged squad as both teams entered the field in front of a large crowd swelled, as usual, by a large Heath contingent of supporters.

Sunny conditions and a strong wind which would play a part in the way the game would be played.

A mistake from Ilkley at the kick off saw a first scrum and the Heath pack demolished the home side's forwards to set the tone for the rest of the game. However, it was Ilkley who drew first blood when a dropped ball on the half-way line was scooped up by the home side wing, who sped off to run the for the opening try, 7-0 with only five minutes on the clock.

Heath were not fazed by this and looked confident with ball in hand, but an Ilkley attack saw an attempted clearance from Dan Cole charged down. Elliot Spiers was on hand to scoop the ball up and race clear, but Ilkley were awarded a penalty. Fortunately, the strong wind came to Heath's aid as the kick was blown wide of the posts.

Heath then went on the attack with Chris Johnson using the wind to Heath's advantage, finding touch in the corner. From the resulting line out Ben Stringer soared high to collect the ball and the drive was on and up popped Olly Cook with the ball for a try, converted by Johnson, and Heath were level, 7-7 with twenty minutes on the clock.

Heath were now controlling the game with Ilkley struggling to contain them and from yet another line out the drive was on. Saif Boussaada went close before Josh Crickmay was on hand to score an unconverted try, 12-7 with twenty-five minutes on the clock.

On the half hour mark Chris Moore came on for Crickmay with Ilkley looking to get back into the game but a superb interception on the half way line from Callum Harriott-Brown saw him run clear to touch down under the posts for an easy conversion from Ezra Hinchliffe and Heath were going clear, 19-7.

Heath were playing some superb rugby and were full of confidence shown by an outrageous dummy from Dom Walsh who side stepped attempted tackles to waltz over the try-line for the bonus point try, converted by Johnson, 26-7 with thirty five minutes on the clock.

Peter Hampshire came on for Jonny Cole and from the re-start the ball came out to Dan Cole who released Joe Morrison who set off on a jinking run before the supporting Hampshire was on hand to collect the ball and shoot over for yet another try, again converted by Hinchliffe, 33-7 with a couple of minutes to half time.

Heath were rampant as they ran the home side ragged and from the last play of the half Chris Johnson converted a penalty to extend the lead 36-7 to round off a superb display from the visitors.

The second half saw Ilkley up against it and their frustrations were compounded when they had a player dismissed for foul play on forty-five minutes. Heath once again took advantage keeping control of the ball which ended in Joe Morrison crossing the line for a try, 41-7, with fifty minutes played.

The game was being played at a fantastic pace with some ferocious tackling from both sides and after a period of pressure Ilkley were rewarded with a converted try, 41-14, and again, despite some heroic defending, Ilkley scored another converted try 41-21 with fifteen minutes remaining.

Heath needed to re-group and when Ezra Hinchliffe broke through with a brilliant run he off-loaded the ball to the supporting Chris Johnson who then slipped a pass to Callum Harriott-Brown who sped over for his second try of the game, 46-21 with ten minutes left to play.

Credit to Ilkley, they continued to battle and were rewarded with another converted try but time was running out for them and Heath had done enough to secure a fine win, 46-28.

The game had been a grand finale to what has been a memorable season for Heath. Other results saw Harrogate secure the title with a hard earned victory over Driffield, to deny Heath, but the team can be proud of their achievements over the season. Obviously there are five “if onlys” which will continue to be debated throughout the summer but the season as a whole has been full of memorable moments and must go down as one of the best ever.

Attention now turns to the Papa Johns Cup competition with a visit to Bridgnorth in the West Midlands next week, followed by a home game against Rossendale at the end of the month. As usual two games to look forwards to and add to the memories. See you there!!!!!!!!

League Results here

League Table here

Bev Clough's photos - check out here, on this site.