Selection
15 Joe Gallagher 14 Elliot Knight 13 Callum Harriott-Brown 12 Jason Merrie11 Joe Morrison 10 Chris Johnson 9 Dom Walsh 1Chris Moore 2 Alex McFadden 3 Josh Crickmay 4 Alex Patrick 5 Pete Hampshire 6 Jonny Cole 7 Harvey Keighley-Payne 8 Ben Stringer 16 Jack Bruce 17 Seif Boussaada 18 Jack Pilcher
Scorers
Josh Crickmay 1 try Seif Boussaada 1 try Jack Pilcher 1 try Joe Morrison 1 try
Chris Johnson 4 cons
Heath travelled up the A1 to take on Blaydon looking to maintain their winning run but once again had to make several changes to the team. Injury to Jake Haynes saw a start for Elliot Knight on the wing while Ezra Hinchliffe could not travel so in came Jason Merrie at centre. The forwards saw a start for Josh Crickmay, replacing the unavailable Olly Cook, while Pete Hampshire returned with Seif Boussaada on the bench alongside Jack Bruce and Jack Pilcher.
Glorious, autumnal sunshine greeted the teams as the home side kicked off and they quickly put the visitors under the cosh as they scored a converted try in the second minute to lead 7-0.
Blaydon continued to have much of the possession as Heath struggled to get hold of the ball but some big hits from Josh Crickmay and Jason Merrie, followed by the visitors pack demolishing the Blaydon side at the first scrum, saw Heath gradually work their way back into the game and when the home teams eight flattened Dom Walsh illegally he was shown a yellow when the travelling band of supporters thought a red may have been more appropriate and this was a chance for Heath to get on the scoreboard. A super kick from Chris Johnson found touch and as Ben Stringer rose to collect line out ball the surge to the Blaydon line was on and Josh Crickmay was on hand to bulldoze over the line for a try, converted by Johnson and the scores were level 7-7 with fifteen minutes played.
Credit to Blaydon, as they responded with some slick ball handling and it came as no surprise to see Dom Walsh, who was still suffering from the illegal challenge having to leave the field replaced by Jack Bruce. As the Heath side shuffled their back line Blaydon took advantage with a penalty to re-take the lead 10-7 with twenty-five minutes on the clock. Jack Pilcher and Seif Boussaada came on for Josh Crickmay and Pete Hampshire on the half hour mark and they were quickly involved in the action as Heath began to turn the screw. A slick pass from Joe Gallagher to Seif Boussaada saw the Tunisian Tank set off on a barnstorming run and as players bounced off him he scored a try, converted by Chris Johnson and Heath took the lead again 14-10 with five minutes left to play.
Both teams continued to battle it out but there was no further score as the referee blew for half time.
Dom Walsh returned following an injury to Joe Gallagher and from the kick off a schoolboy error from Blaydon presented Heath with a penalty. Johnson found touch and from the line out the catch and drive saw Jack Pilcher emerge with ball for a try, again converted by Chris Johnson and Heath led 21-10 with only two minutes played.
Heath had set their stall out playing some excellent rugby and as Blaydon buckled they took advantage. The next scum saw Heath once again demolish the Blaydon pack and the ball was spun out along the backs for Joe Morrison to finish with a bonus point try. The reliable boot of Chris Johnson converted and Heath led 28-10 with fifty minutes played.
An injury to Chris Moore saw Josh Crickmay return as the home side looked to get back into the game and Heath were under pressure once again. A quick tap penalty from Blaydon proved crucial as Heath were caught out conceding a converted try, 28-17 with a quarter of the game left to play.
Blaydon continued to press, but there was some heroic defence from Heath and when Jason Merrie received a yellow the pressure was increased on the visitors defence. Alex Patrick came off as Pete Hampshire returned and with the clock winding down Heath continued to defend but Blaydon could not find a gap through.
With minutes left, a long kick deep into the Heath defence was not dealt with and when the ball was passed along the Blaydon line it looked a certain score but the home winger had a foot in touch and the try was disallowed much to the relief of the travelling Heath supporters. Merrie returned deep into injury time as the battle to defend continued and, with players strewn around the field, it was a relief to hear the final whistle sound.
This was a real battle, but one that Heath deserved to win. Always difficult to play on the artificial surface with a few battered bodies but as they say a win's a win and the result sees Heath move up a couple of places to fourth in the League. A well deserved break from league games next week for players to recover before they return to action with a home derby game against Cleckheaton on the 9th. See you there!!!!!!!
League Results, here.
League Table, here.
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All photos are via Bev Clough, unless otherwise stated. More of Bev's shots can be found on her facebook page, here.
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