HEATH NOT AT THE RACES AS SANDAL CRUISE TO VICTORY

Selections
15 Eddie Cartwright 14 Callum Harriott-Brown 13 Jack Malthouse 12 Tom Owen 11 Joe Morrison 10 Chris Johnson 9 Dom Walsh 1 Olly Cook 2 Alex McFadden 3 Chris Moore 4 Alex Patrick 5 Peter Hampshire 6 Ben Stringer 7 Harvey Keighley-Payne 8 Jonny Garrity  16 Max Rowntree 17 Jonny Cole 18 Paul Turner

Scorers    Joe Morrison 1 try

Report
Heath travelled over to Sandal looking to build on last weeks home win over Percy Park but once again were forced into making changes to the squad due to injury and unavailability. Callum Harriott-Brown moved to the wing due to injury to Jake Haynes with Jack Malthouse coming in at centre. It was also a welcome return from injury for Joe Morrison who started for the unavailable Sam Fletcher. Ben Stringer reverted to his usual position in the pack with Jonny Cole having a stint on the bench alongside Max Rowntree and the returning Paul Turner.

In superb conditions Heath kicked off playing down the slope and against a strong breeze as the home side quickly got into action and after two minutes they took the lead with a converted try - not the start Heath wanted.

Callum Harriott-Brown was first to press the home defence but when the ball was dropped Sandal fly kicked through and gave chase. Chris Johnson won the race for the ball to kick for touch. Once again Heath were under pressure and following a penalty Sandal increased their lead 10-0 with twelve minutes played, again, not the best of starts for the visitors who needed to respond.

Heath went in search of a reply but when Jack Malthouse injured a shoulder Max Rowtree entered the fray and Heath had to re-shuffle. On fifteen minutes a penalty from Johnson found touch five metres from the home try-line and when Ben Stringer soared to collected the ball Heath drove for the line. The ball came out along the line but the home defence were in determined mood, defending well and the chance was gone. The game settled down into a midfield battle with some massive hits from both sides before Sandal increased their lead with a penalty, 13-0. Time for change as Olly Cook and Jonny Garrity made way for Paul Turner and Jonny Cole but they were powerless to prevent yet another onslaught  from Sandal as Heath became encamped in their own 22 as the game reached the half time stage with no further score - much to the relief of the visitors and their supporters.

Heath were out early at the start of the second half looking for a big improvement from a disappointing first forty minutes but when they conceded a penalty from kick off, Sandal capitalised scoring a converted try, 20-0 with only two minutes played. Heath were under pressure again and following some inept tackling Sandal increased their lead with a converted try 27-0 with fifty minutes played.

Heath needed something and quick and following a run from Joe Morrison the ball passed along the line ending up in Max Rowntrees' hands but he was held short. However, Heath won ball and came back along the line to Eddie Cartwright who slipped a pass to Morrison who crashed over for an unconverted try, 27-5.

With a quarter of the game left to play Jonny Garrity returned for Pete Hampshire but he was powerless to prevent Sandal scoring a bonus point converted try, 34-5, and the game had gone. Olly Cook came on for Paul Turner but Heath had lost the game and when the home side scored a fifth converted try, 41-5, they could not wait to hear the final whistle. 

The game was littered with mistakes from Heath as the home side dominated possession, scoring six tries. The defeat was the third heaviest for coach Dave Harrison since taking over the reins, who will no doubt chomping at the bit to get back onto the training paddock as he prepares the team for the visit of table topping Scunthorpe next Saturday. See you there!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Links to:

Other Results, here.

League Table, here.