HEATH SECURE STUNNING WIN 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 Dom Walsh 1 Chris Moore 2 Alex McFadden 3 Josh Crickmay 4 Alex Patrick 5 Peter Hampshire 6 Ben Stringer 7 Harvey Keighley-Payne 8 Tom Clough 16 Dominic Horn 17 Seif Boussaada 18 Jack Pilcher

Scorers
Dom Walsh 1 try  Joe Morrison 1 try  Seif Boussaada 1 try  Alex McFadden 1 try  Ezra Hinchliffe 1 try  Elliott Knight 1 try
Chris Johnson 5 cons

Report
Heath entertained Driffield, looking to get back to winning ways and welcomed back Tom Clough following a lengthy injury. Jack Bruce started on the wing while the bench saw Jack Pilcher, Dominic Horn and Seif Boussaada.

Bright, autumnal sunshine greeted the teams and a large crowd had gathered hoping to witness  a good battle and they were not to be disappointed. 

The visitors kicked off playing towards the Stainland Road end and were first out of the blocks as Heath struggled to contain an early onslaught as they took the lead with a penalty, 3-0 with only two minutes on the clock.

Heath responded immediately with strong runs from Elliott Knight and Joe Morrison, which exposed the visitors defence, and from a penalty for offside, Chris Johnson opted to find touch in the corner. However, the visitors contested the line out, winning ball and clearing the danger. After a frantic start the game settled down for the next fifteen minutes before a chance came for the visitors when they were awarded a penalty. Lucky for Heath the kick went wide but Driffield continued to press for a score though Heath were in determined mood.

On twenty-five minutes, Heath eventually got a break when Callum Harriott-Brown collected the ball and, after evading several tackles, he linked up with the supporting Jack Bruce who kicked ahead and the chase was on. Driffield covered but did not get the ball and Dom Walsh was on hand to touchdown for the opening try, converted by Chris Johnson and Heath led 7-3.

From the re-start Elliott Knight collected and made valuable yardage, supported by Harriott-Brown and with the visitors defence struggling to contain the onslaught Tom Clough, Chris Moore and Josh Crickmay made valuable yardage driving for the try line before the ball came out and Joe Morrison was on hand to cross the try-line for a second try, converted by Johnson and a score of 14-3 with ten minutes to half time.

An injury to Josh Crickmay saw Jack Pilcher enter the field and he was quickly involved in the game. Heath were playing with much more flair and prepared to throw the ball around and when Elliott Knight collected the ball in his own 22 he sped off on a mazy run but was held up by the covering defence when a certain try looked on the cards. With five minutes left to play, Pete Hampshire made way for Seif Boussaada and he had an immediate impact. Following a superb phase of play from the home side, pulling the visitors defence apart, Boussaada was on hand to crash over for a try, converted by Chris Johnson, and Heath led 21-3 as the half time whistle sounded. It had been a thoroughly absorbing half and the crowd were hoping for more of the same after the break.

From kick off Driffield made a mistake which resulted in a penalty. Johnson found touch, Boussaada caught and drove on and Alex McFadden was on hand to score the try, converted by Johnson and 28-3 with two minutes played, PERFECT START!

However, credit should go to the visitors who responded with some good play but Heath were in no mood to concede and, when  Ben Stringer was carded on fifty minutes, Heath continued to put in an heroic defensive display. Joe Morrison was replaced by Dominic Horn. Driffield continued to try and prise open the home defence but they could not find a way through and when Tom Clough made a break he released the supporting Ezra Hinchliffe who evaded several tackles to score a try, converted by Johnson and a score of 35-3 was just reward and seemed to deflate the visitors with fifteen minutes left to play.

With the home side back to full strength there was a period of exceptional rugby from Heath which delighted the home supporters but Driffield, once again to their credit, responded with a converted try, 35-10, with ten minutes left to play.

Pete Hampshire came on for Tom Clough as Heath re-grouped and went back on the attack with some slick passing and when Ezra Hinchliffe released Elliott Knight he crossed the whitewash for a try and a final score 40-10 was just reward for the home side and their supporters.

This was a great game to watch and credit must go to both sides for putting on a spectacle as Christmas came early for Heath. Next up it is a tough trip away to Alnwick who seem to be finding form and Heath will once again have to be top of their game. See you there!!!!!!!!!!!!

League Results, here.

League Table, here.

Photography.  No Bev Clough or Andy Keighley, this week.  But we had a new visitor in the form of Andy Groves together with returning photographer, Mike Spencer.

Their photos will be posted asap.