HEATH REMAIN COOL IN TENSE DERBY ATMOSPHERE TO SECURE MAXIMUM POINTS

Selection
15 Callum Harriott-Brown 14 Elliott Knight 13 Joe Morrison 12 Ezra Hinchliffe 11 Jack Bruce 10 Chris Johnson 9 Max Rowntree 1 Jack Pilcher 2 Alex McFadden 3 Chris Moore 4 Alex Patrick 5 Peter Hampshire 6 Jonny Cole 7 Harvey Keighley-Payne 8 Ben Stringer 16 Dominic Horn 17 Jonny Garrity 18 Olly Cook

Scorers
Chris Moore 1 try Callum Harriott-Brown 1 try Jonny Garrity 1 try 1 Penalty try
Chris Johnson 5 Penalty cons 1 con    Ezra Hinchliffe 1 penalty con 2 cons

Report
It was derby day at North Dean as Heath entertained local rivals Cleckheaton with the home side looking for victory in their quest to move further up the table. Once again injuries meant a shuffle to the side with Callum Harriott-Brown moving to full back and Ezra Hinchliffe coming in at centre and Max Rowntree starting. The forwards saw Jack Pilcher return while on the bench it was a welcome return for Dominic Horn, alongside Jonny Garrity and Olly Cook.

A large crowd greeted the teams who all observed a minutes silence for Remembrance Day before the start. Conditions were ideal as Heath kicked off playing towards the Stainland Road end and when Chris Johnson punted the ball high Cleckheaton made a mistake which saw a first scrum. Heath demolished the visitors' pack which set the tone for the rest of the game and when the home side were awarded a penalty after ten minutes the reliable boot of Chris Johnson slotted the ball between the posts and Heath took the lead 3-0.

Cleckheaton were struggling to come to terms with the game, giving away a number of penalties and from one Johnson increased the lead to 6-0 with fifteen minutes played.

A super run from Joe Morrison set up yet another chance for Heath as he was hauled down just short of the try-line but it was the visitors who scored the first try of the game after twenty-five minutes with their first real attack, 7-6.

Heath needed to re-group and from the re-start Harvey Keighley-Payne charged forwards securing the ball as Cleckheaton tried to prevent a score. Once again ill-discipline from the visitors saw Heath awarded yet another penalty and Johnson stepped up to convert 9-7 with twenty-seven minutes on the clock. This seemed to inspire Heath and from the re-start Max Rowntree collected and released Chris Johnson who linked up with Harriott-Brown who made inroads into the visitors defence. In desperation Cleckheaton had a player carded and Johnson stepped up to convert the penalty 12-7 with thirty minutes played.

Heath were now playing with confidence pulling the Cleck defence apart and when Johnson slipped a pass to Keighley-Payne the only way to stop the try was to give away another penalty. Quick thinking from Chris Moore saw him tap the ball and score a try, converted by Johnson, 19-7 with five minutes to half time.

Credit to the visitors who went back on the attack and were rewarded with a penalty conversion 19-10 but Heath were in no mood to let them get back into the game as Rowntree released Harriott-Brown  who linked up well with Elliott Knight to put even more pressure on the visitors' defence. With half time approaching yet another penalty from Chris Johnson saw Heath extend their lead to 22-10 as the whistle sounded. 

The second half saw Cleckheaton make the perfect start scoring a converted try following defensive mistakes from Heath and 22-17.  It was game on. Olly Cook and Jonny Garrity came on replacing Chris Moore and Peter Hampshire as Heath looked to respond. A huge punt from Chris Johnson saw Jack Bruce give chase and when he won the ball his pass to the supporting Joe Morrison was illegally intercepted by a stumbling visitors defence which resulted in a penalty try and another card, 29-17, with forty-five minutes played.

Again, credit to Cleckheaton as they looked to re-group and they were rewarded with a penalty conversion, 29-20. The visitors continued to put the home defence under pressure and when Johnson was carded for an alleged high tackle it was game on.  But, following  a series of scrums, the Cleckheaton captain Piper received a straight red card for throwing a punch and Ezra Hinchliffe converted the penalty 32-20.

Cleckheaton tried to respond but Heath were in no mood to let them score and the visitors became more frustrated. Dominic Horne came on for Chris Johnson following the ten minute sin bin and Heath began to take control of the game. A superb charge from Alex Patrick set up a chance for a score and quick hands across the field saw Callum Harriott-Brown round of a super move for a third try converted by Ezra Hinchliffe, 39-20 with fifteen minutes left to play.

Once again Cleckheaton responded with a converted try but Heath were in no mood to let the game slip and went back on the attack looking for a bonus point fourth try. Deep into injury time a scum on the visitors try-line was a chance and a huge surge by the Heath demolished the visitors pack - which saw Jonny Garrity emerge with the ball for the try, converted by Hinchliffe.  A final score 46-27 was just reward for the home side.

The game was marred in the final minutes as the visitors lost control as emotions ran high but it was a great win for Heath and they now prepare to visit Huddersfield next week. See you there!!

All photos:  Bev Clough.

Some useful links.

League results, here.

League Table, here.

More photos from Bev Clough, here.

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