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 Chris Moore 2 Jack Pilcher 3 Josh Crickmay 4 Saif Boussaada 5 Peter Hampshire 6 Ben Stringer 7 Harvey Keighley-Payne 8 Tom Clough 16 Jack Malthouse 17 Jonny Cole 18 Olly Cook 19 Alex McFadden 20 Tom Stansfield 21 Alex Patrick 22 Max Rowntree

Travelling Reserves

Olly Scrimshaw Jake Haynes Elliot Knight

Scorers

Callum Harriott-Brown 1 try Seif Boussaada 1 try Chris Moore 1 try Jack Malthouse 1 try

Chris Johnson 3 cons 2 pens Ezra Hinchliffe 1 pen

Report

Twickenham was drenched in sunshine as the healthy looking crowd poured into the ground hoping for their teams to come away with the Papa Johns Cup but the game that they were waiting for was far better than expected and had a twist at the end of the game. Some Heath supporters had flown in from Australia and Ireland to witness the event with the majority coming down by coach and car. Preparations, both on and off the field, had been frantic in the build up to the game. The Heath contingent of supporters looked resplendent with their replica shirts, new and old along with banners, bunting and bugles as they greeted their team into the gladiatorial arena to a chorus of Yorkshire! Yorkshire! Yorkshire!

Heath kicked off playing towards the South Stand and quickly put the Barnstaple players under pressure in what was a hectic start and when Joe Morrison and Callum Harriott-Brown linked up with some slick handling Harriott-Brown crossed the line for a try, converted by Chris Johnson and Heath led 7-0 with only two minutes played and the Heath crowd went wild.

This seemed to spur Barnstaple into action and only quick thinking from Dan Cole prevented a score but the pressure told and the men from Devon converted a penalty after ten minutes 7-3. This inspired them and backed by their vociferous supporters they were rewarded with a converted try on twenty minutes to take the lead 10-7.

Heath were not at the races at this time and were making too many mistakes. Following injury to Tom Clough the long break ignited Barnstaple more and they increased their lead to 15-7 with twenty five minutes on the clock. Heath needed to try and get hold of the ball and keep possession and astute kicks from Chris Johnson and Dan Cole set up an opportunity for Ezra Hinchliffe and Harvey Keighley- Payne to break the Barnstaple line for Seif Boussaada to smash his way over the try-line for a converted try, 15-14 on the half hour mark and now it was the Heath supporters who were chanting the loudest.

Time for Alex McFadden and Alex Patrick to enter the arena with Jack Pilcher and Chris Moore making way. However, they were powerless to prevent another Barnstaple onslaught and only heroic defending by the Heath players prevented any score. With five minutes remaining Chris Johnson was yellow carded and Heath were up against it again but as they mounted yet another attack the half time whistle sounded and the score remained 15-14 to Barnstaple.

It was a well deserved break for all concerned and the first half had gone in a flash but when both teams came out for the second half they were quickly back on the same pace. A super 50-22 kick from Dan Cole set up an early chance for Heath. The line out was claimed by Ben Stringer and Josh Crickmay, Tom Clough and Alex Patrick made valuable yardage before Barnstaple gave away a penalty and Ezra Hinchliffe converted 17-15 with forty-five minutes played.

Heath were back up to full strength and were managing to keep possession frustrating Barnstaple and a high tackle on Dan Cole saw them down to fourteen. The resulting penalty saw Johnson find touch five metres from the line and when Barnstaple gave away a second penalty, shortly after, Johnson was on hand to convert to extend Heaths lead 20-15 with fifty-five minutes on the clock.

The atmosphere was electric as both teams continued to batter each other and it was Barnstaple who took advantage of some inept tackles from Heath to score a converted try under the posts and they re-took the lead 22-20 with a quarter of the game left to play.

Chris Moore rejoined the action as Josh Crickmay made way but he was powerless to prevent another try from the boys from Devon following a huge Heath defensive error which allowed them to score another converted try 29-20 and the game seemed to be slipping away from Heath.

Jonny Cole replaced Ben Stringer as Heath looked for a way to get back into the game and from their next attack a quickly taken penalty tap from Chris Johnson saw him release the onrushing Chris Moore who blasted his way over the try-line from three metres 27-29 with fifteen minutes left to play and once again it was anyones to win.

Elliott Spiers made way for Jack Malthouse as the game continued to ebb and flow but Heath were playing the patience game and on seventy-two minutes took the lead with a penalty from the reliable boot of Chris Johnson and Heath led 30-29.

There were a lot of tired bodies out on the park as Jack Pilcher returned for Olly Cook but from a charge down clearance kick Barnstaple were rewarded with a penalty conversion to re-take the lead 32-30 with three minutes left to play. Heath were now under the cosh and when Barnstaple converted another penalty 35-30 it looked all over for the boys in maroon.

Injury time was now being played with Barnstaple keeping possession but when Jonny Cole robbed the ball from the tackle it was Heaths opportunity for a score. A clever grubber kick to the corner from Johnson saw Harriott-Brown miss an opportunity to score but Barnstaple had conceded a penalty in front of the posts and up stepped Chris Johnson. Once again quick thinking saw him tap and pass along the line with the ball eventually reaching Jack Malthouse on the wing who stormed over for a try to level the score, 35-35 and the noise from the Heath mob was deafening.

Was it going to be extra time and could we stand another thirty minutes? Only one person knew and that was CJ. His conversion kick missed but he knew Heath had won the cup - as they had scored the first try of the game and Cup rules, if the scores are level and tries scored are level, then the result goes to the team who scored the first try. The Heath contingent went ballistic with the players and crowd going wild once they realised they had snatched the win and after some enthusiastic celebrations, when the trophy was presented, it was time to reflect on the game - before the party began (lasting long into the night).

Commiserations must go to Barnstaple who put up a tremendous fight only to fall foul of the cup rule.

A tremendous day for all concerned and a fitting way to end for Sid Sales, who is leaving to take up the coaching reins at Morley. Harry and Sid have been in charge of the Heath squads for 210 games and in their coaching careers have never lifted a trophy. Job Done today boys!!!!

Now it is time for a welcome summer break. Many thanks to my reader for taking the time to catch up with my reports but it is time to put my pen and pad to bed for the break and wash me lucky socks. See you in September!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heath at Twickenham: England RFU Stats. 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.

Photography: Both Bev Clough and Andy Keighley received accreditation from the RFU and were pitch-side.

Some photos are with this Report. Others are with News Items on our site. Here and Here.

Bev Clough has a lot more on her facebook page, here.

ENJOY!!