LAST MINUTE ILKLEY TRY CONDEMNS HEATH TO OPENING DAY DEFEAT

Selection
15 Dan Cole 14 Elliott Knight 13 Callum Harriott-Brown 12 Ezra Hinchliffe 11 Jake Haynes 10 Chris Johnson 9 Dom Walsh 1 Jack Pilcher 2 Alex McFadden 3 Chris Moore 4 Peter Hampshire 5 Alex Patrick 6 Ben Stringer 7 Harvey Keighley-Payne 8 Tom Clough 16 Jonny Cole 17Seif Boussaada 18 Olly Cook

Scorers
Jake Haynes 1 try  Ezra Hinchliffe 1 try  Tom Clough 1 try
Chris Johnson 2 pens  2 cons

Man of Match

Jake Haynes:  Chris Johnson says: "Jake was excellent at the weekend.  His attacking talents are obvious and he showed us how quick and elusive he really is - which were some of the reasons he was in the Team.  But, off the ball, he was also excellent - always in the right position.

Deservedly Heath's Man of the Match.

Report
The start of a new league campaign saw Heath travel over to Ilkley with the team showing few changes to the side. Jake Haynes started on the wing as both sides took to the field with conditions damp under foot following a heavy downpour prior to the game.

Ilkley kicked off playing towards the road end and were quickly into their stride as Heath struggled to get to terms with the early pace of the game. A penalty miss from Ilkley let Heath off the hook but the home side continued to press for a score. An attempted clearance kick from Chris Johnson was charged down but the ball bounced favourably for the visitors as Callum Harriott-Brown scooped it up and charged forty metres before the Ilkley defence covered across. This seemed to inspire Heath and following a drive from the visitors pack Jake Haynes was on hand to collect the ball but he was held short of the try-line.

Heath continued to press and were rewarded with a converted penalty from the reliable boot of Chris Johnson, 3-0 with a quarter of the game played.

This seemed to boost Heath and with the pack dominating scrums it came as no surprise to see Tom Clough set off on a mazy run before off-loading to the supporting Haynes but the home defence covered. The damp conditions did not help the players who dropped ball at crucial times as Heath continued to put the home defence under pressure. Jack Pilcher left the field with an injury replaced by Olly Cook and shortly after Seif Boussaada and Jonny Cole came on for Peter Hampshire and Ben Stringer but as half time approached it was Ilkley who took advantage with a penalty to level the scores 3-3. Shortly after the referee sounded the whistle for the break.

Heath began the second half in a more determined mood but the home side were equal to this and were dangerous on the break. Haynes went close yet again and from the scrums Olly Cook and Tom Clough were held short of a score as the home defence kept Heath at bay and they were rewarded following a huge clearance kick which saw them back on the attack.

It was Heaths turn to defend but despite some desperate work they could not prevent Ilkley scoring an unconverted try as the home side led 8-3 with fifty minutes on the clock. This seemed to inspire the home side and from the re-start they went back on the attack scoring a try in the corner 13-3 and Heath needed a response.

Dom Walsh and Chris Johnson worked hard to get Heath back into the game and from a penalty kick to touch Heath had an opportunity. In desperation Ilkley had a player yellow carded, following an infringement at line out, Jonny Cole, Seif Boussadda and Alex Patrick drove into the defence as Ilkley clung on. However, After another yellow card, and Ilkley down to thirteen, Heath finally broke the deadlock as Jake Haynes touchdown In the corner. Johnson converted and Heath were back in the game 13-10 with a quarter of the game left to play.

Heath now had the upper hand and following a period of possession Ezra Hinchliffe was on hand to round off a flowing move with another converted try, 17-13. Heath continued to hold the upper hand and as Ilkley returned to full strength Tom Clough was there to round off a superb move with a try in the corner. Unfortunately, the conversion from Johnson hit a post and bounced clear but Heath had extended their lead to 22-13 with ten minutes left to play.

Peter Hampshire returned for Boussaada as Heath went in search of a bonus point try but Ilkley had re-grouped and responded with a converted try 22-20 with six minutes left. Jack Pilcher replaced Tom Clough and when Chris Johnson converted a penalty 25-20 the game looked over with four minutes remaining but again the home side had other ideas and following some inept tackling from the visitors Ilkley broke, free scoring a converted try under the posts to snatch a win 27-25 with a minute left to play to the final whistle. 

A disappointing opening result for Heath but credit to Ilkley who defended well under pressure and took advantage when in possession. Lots of work to do on the training paddock as Heath now prepare for the visit of Percy Park next week.

Interesting Results, elsewhere, this week:

Official Results here

League Table here.

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