HEATH GRAB LOSING BONUS POINT AS THEY PUSH LEAGUE LEADERS TO THE LIMIT

Selection
15 Chris Johnson 14 Joe Morrison 13 Callum Harriott-Brown 12 Ezra Hinchliffe 11 Jack Bruce 10 Joe Gallagher 9 Dom Walsh 1 Olly Cook 2 Alex McFadden 3 Chris Moore 4 Seif Boussaada 5 Alex Patrick 6 Jonny Cole 7 Harvey Keighley-Payne 8 Ben Stringer 16 Max Rowntree 17 Peter Hampshire 18 Carter Haigh

Scorers
Chris Johnson 1 pen Ezra Hinchliffe 3 pens

Report
Heath entertained league leaders Scunthorpe looking for an improved performance against a side who had obtained maximum points from their three league outings but once again they had to make several changes to the side. It was good to see Ezra Hinchliffe return and he was joined by Jack Bruce and Joe Gallagher with Chris Johnson moving to full back as Rugby Director Harry shuffled his back line. In the forwards Seif Boussaada was recalled and Jonny Cole had a start with Ben Stringer moving to 8. On the bench Carter Haigh made his league debut alongside Max Rowntree and Pete Hampshire. Before the game there was a minutes applause for ex player, captain and club supporter “Harry Brearley” who sadly passed away earlier in the week.

In perfect conditions Scunthorpe kicked off playing towards the Stainland Road end and quickly put Heath under pressure but the home side put in a solid defensive stint to prevent a score. In their first attack Heath had a line out won by Alex Patrick and from the drive were awarded a penalty, converted by Chris Johnson and Heath led 3-0 with twelve minutes played.

This inspired the home side and from the re-start Jack Bruce collected the ball and made valuable yardage before the visitors mounted another onslaught into the home defence. There was some ferocious tackling from Heath, as they defended their lead, but the only reward for the visitors was a penalty after twenty-five minutes to level the scores 3-3.

Heath were battling hard and on the half hour mark, following a scrum, the ball came out to Callum Harriott-Brown who made a break before releasing Joe Morrison who was just held up short of the line as the visitors cover defence did their job. Next up, an outrageous pass between the legs from Dom Walsh found Harvey Keighley-Payne who once again made good ground but Scunny held firm. Time for a change as Seif Boussadda and Olly Cook made way for Peter Hampshire and Carter Haigh and as the game intensified with half time approaching Dom Walsh received a card, much to the amazement of the home crowd and Heath were back on the defence. In the final minute an easy penalty attempt was missed by the visitors and the half time whistle sounded.

Max Rowntree replaced Jack Bruce, following the absence of Walsh, as the start of the half saw Scunny go in search of an early score but Heath were much improved in defence and after Walsh returned Heath were back to full strength and mounted another attack on the visitors defence but could not break through.

On fifty-five minutes an injury to Chris Moore saw Olly Cook return and shortly after Chris Johnson was side lined with Max Rowntree coming on as both sides looked for a break. From a penalty some ingenuity from Joe Gallagher saw a quick tap and go which put Heath on the attack and with Scunthorpe caught off guard it resulted in yet another penalty and up stepped Ezra Hinchliffe to slot the ball over, 6-3 with a quarter of the game still to play.

The visitors response was immediate and following a penalty, which found touch ten metres from the Heath try-line, they secured ball to go over for the first try of the game to lead 10-6. It was still anyones game as the clock wound down and when Boussaada returned for Ben Stringer he was quickly targeted by the visitors with an off the ball incident which was missed by the referee.

Heath needed to keep control and when Gallagher found touch in the corner the resulting line out was won and as Heath drove forwards Scunny gave away a penalty and Hinchliffe converted 10-9 with eight minutes left to play. Once again the visitors mounted yet another onslaught and were patient as they looked for a gap in the home defence and with Heath players desperate to prevent a score, and players scattered around the field injured, it came as no surprise for them to crash over for a converted try 17-9.

From the bodies scattered around Alex McFadden had to leave the pitch, replaced by Ben Stringer, with three minutes left to play.

Great credit must go to Heath for still believing they could muster a losing bonus point and they received a lifeline after a penalty forty metres out up stepped Ezra Hinchliffe to slot the ball between the posts,17-12.

Deep into injury time a superb kick from Joe Gallagher found touch close to the Scunny line and, as the crowd looked for a try, Heath snatched the ball but could not find a score. Scunthopre defended and managed to put the ball into touch and the referee blew for full time.

This was a much improved performance from Heath who put the league leaders under a great deal of pressure but they had to settle for a losing bonus point. 

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