HEATH OVERPOWER  BRIDGNORTH WITH SEVEN TRY HAUL IN CUP DOMINANCE

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 Tom Stansfield 7 Jonny Cole 8 Ben Stringer 16 Callum Harriott-Brown 17 Sam Sharp 18 Olly Cook 19 Alex Patrick 20 Jack Pilcher 21 Max Rowntree 22 Jake Haynes

Scorers
Jonny Cole 2 tries   Saif Boussaada 1 try   Joe Morrison 2 tries  Dom Walsh 1 try Jack Pilcher 1 try
Chris Johnson 5 cons  1 pen   Ezra Hinchliffe 1 con

Report
Yet another new club to add to Harry and Sid's Magical Mystery Tours as Heath travelled to Shropshire to take on Bridgnorth in the Papa Johns Cup. Injuries to captain Harvey Keighley-Payne and Tom Clough saw starts for Peter Hampshire and debutant Tom Stansfield and cup rules meant seven players on the bench with Max Rowntree and Sam Sharp also making their debuts. The game marked  Club stalwart and Captain Fantastic Chris Moore's three hundredth game in Heath colours in what has been a distinguished career.

Bright sunshine greeted the teams in front of a large crowd, swelled as usual by the Heath faithful who had made the long trek down the M6 to hopefully witness another victory.

The visitors kicked off and in the first minute had an awakening call as Bridgnorth mounted a charge with a super move down the wing before Dan Cole covered to clear the danger. This seemed to switch Heath on and following a kick from Cole, Joe Morrison set off in chase. The home side covered but when Elliott Spiers broke he managed to slip a pass to the supporting Jonny Cole who crossed for the opening try, converted by Chris Johnson and Heath led 7-0 with only three minutes played.

However, the lead was short lived as from the re-start Bridgnorth converted a penalty to reduce the arrears, 7-3. A frantic start from both teams eventually saw the game even out but with fifteen minutes played Alex McFadden had to leave the field with a knee injury and was replaced by Jack Pilcher who was quickly in the thick of things.

A penalty from Chris Johnson saw Heath increase their lead to 10-3 and, with the visitors now playing with much more confidence, it was only a matter of time before they added to their tally. Strong runs from Saif Boussaada, Ben Stringer and Peter Hampshire put Heath in a strong position and when Jack Pilcher was held short of the try-line Bridgnorth were clinging on. The Heath forwards were dominating scrums and line outs and when Ben Stringer soared high to collect the ball the drive to the try-line saw Josh Crickmay held up before Jonny Cole pounced for his second try, converted by Johnson and Heath were in control, 17-3, with twenty-five minutes on the clock.

Crickmay and Hampshire were replaced by Olly Cook and Alex Patrick as Heath continued to dominate, playing possession rugby and pulling the home defence apart and when Saif Boussaada took charge by picking up the ball ten metres out and evading several attempted tackles, to cross over for another converted try, Heath led 24-3.

The final minutes of the half saw Bridgnorth continuing to battle but it was Heath who held the upper hand.  

The second half saw Heath step up their game and when Joe Morrison scooped up the ball, following a line out, he sprinted twenty five metres to score under the posts, again the conversion from Johnson. From the re-start Johnson kicked using the wind advantage and finding touch. Again the ball was won and with Dan Cole in possession he slipped the ball to Morrison who crossed for his second try in as many minutes and with a score of 38-3 with forty-five minutes the game was over.

Elliott Spiers and Chris Johnson came off replaced by Callum Harriott-Brown and Jake Haynes and shortly after Ben Stringer had to be replaced, following injury, Peter Hampshire returned. This enabled Bridgnorth to try and re-group and following a period of possession they were rewarded with their first converted try of the game, 38-10 with fifty-five minutes on the clock.  

Olly Cook left the field, with Josh Crickmay returning and following a period of scrappy play from both sides a scrum from Heath saw them charge for the line before Dom Walsh scooped up the ball to score a try, converted by Ezra Hinchliffe, 45-10 with fifteen minutes left to play.

Max Rowntree replaced Walsh as Bridgnorth, to their credit, continued to battle but when Dan Cole put in a huge clearance kick Heath were back on the attack. From a line out Seif Boussaada collected and the drive was on and Jack Pilcher emerged with the ball for an unconverted try 50-10.

Cook and Spiers returned replacing Chris Moore and Ezra Hinchliffe and as Heath re-grouped Bridgnorth took advantage with an unconverted try for a final score of 50-15.

The result saw Heath have the perfect start to their cup campaign in their quest to reach the final. Next up is a home game against Rossendale in two weeks which will be another cracker of a game and one not to be missed. See you there!!!!! 

No Bev Clough or Andy Keighley, on photo duties, this week, but Mike Spencer (former HOB) came up from Cardiff with his camera and added to the tally of fine shots.

Also, Bridgnorth have quite a few on the Facebook page, here.

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