HEATH BATTLE TO SECURE MAXIMUM POINTS AS THEY DEMOLISH YORK

Selection
15 Callum Harriott-Brown 14 Elliot Knight 13 Joe Morrison 12 Ezra Hinchliffe 11 Jack Bruce 10 Joe Gallagher 9 Dom Walsh 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 Chris Johnson 17 Tom Clough 18 Josh Crickmay

Scorers
Alex McFadden 1 try Jack Bruce 2 tries Harvey Keighley-Payne 1 try Joe Morrison 1 try 
Chris Johnson 2 con 1 pen

Report
After a month since their last outing Heath travelled to second place York looking to secure a win to keep them in the promotion race. Joe Gallagher was recalled at 10 in an otherwise unchanged side with Chris Johnson reverting to the bench alongside Tom Clough and Josh Crickmay, who had recovered from injury. A large crowd greeted both teams as they entered the field in what were near perfect conditions hoping to witness a fine spectacle and they were not to be disappointed.

York kicked off playing down the slope and were quickly into their stride as they put the Heath defence under pressure but once the visitors managed to get possession they looked very confident throwing the ball around looking for openings in the home defence. A head injury on fifteen minutes saw York forced into a change and five minutes later Heath had to change when Captain Harvey Keighley-Payne received a similar injury which saw Tom Clough enter the field.

York had the chance to take the lead with a penalty kick but the ball hit the post and bounced clear before Ezra Hinchliffe collected and punted it up field. The York wingman collected and ran fifty metres before a slick pass to Shackleton saw him waltz over the line for an opening converted try, 7-0 with twenty-five minutes on the clock.

From the re-start York collected the ball and put the visitors defence under pressure and, following some inept tackling by the visitors, scored a second converted try, 14-0 with twenty-seven minutes played. Heath needed to respond and following a good run from Tom Clough they put the home defence under pressure. Several penalties were conceded by the home side as they were desperate to keep Heath at bay but they survived and cleared the danger. Heath continued to look for an opening score and when Elliot Knight collected a huge clearance kick he set off on a jinking run before releasing Joe Morrison who made yardage before being illegally stopped by the home side. The resulting penalty saw Joe Gallagher find touch as Heath made a change; Josh Crickmay coming on for Jack Pilcher. The line-out ball was won by Alex Patrick and the drive saw Alex McFadden emerge from a pile of bodies to score a try, 14-5 with thirty-two minutes played.

Heath continued to batter the home defence who, in their frustrations, had a player yellow carded. A superb run from Josh Crickmay set up a chance but the supporting Joe Morrison could not hold on to the ball with a try beckoning as York struggled, but they managed to hold out and were relieved to hear the half time whistle.

'More of the same please' from the crowd as the second half began with Heath firing on all sides in an exhilarating start to the second half.  With the home side struggling they had another player sin-binned and Heath took control. From a scrum, Tom Clough broke free to release Dom Walsh who slipped the ball to Joe Morrison who in turn threw a long pass out to Jack Bruce who crossed the line in the corner, 14-10, with forty-seven minutes played and Heath were back in it.

From the re-start, York were awarded a penalty which was converted, 17-10, but Heath were in no mood to let them off the hook. Ben Stringer collected line out ball and the Heath forwards drove for the try-line. Harvey Keighley-Payne returned, replacing the injured Jonny Cole and he was quickly in the thick of things as the Heath pack demolished the home side and, when the ball came out along the backs, Jack Bruce was on hand yet again to score in the corner, 15-17, as the hour mark approached.

York were really struggling to contain the onslaught making a number of mistakes as Chris Johnson replaced Joe Gallagher. Heath were in fine form but gave away a penalty and York increased their lead 20-15 but, undeterred, Heath replied with their own penalty conversion from Johnson 20-18 with ten minutes left to go. Heath were playing possession rugby and were pulling the home defence apart and, from yet another scrum, Harvey Keighley-Payne was on hand to crash over the try-line for a converted try and Heath took the lead for the first time 25-20, with eight minutes left to play.

Jack Pilcher returned replacing Tom Clough as the home side looked to score but Heath were in no mood to concede and, from a breakaway, they went back on the attack. York were a spent force as Joe Morrison crashed over the try-line and when Chris Johnson added the extras the game was won 32-20 much to the delight of the travelling supporters.

The result was just reward for the Heath players, who battled hard and were rewarded for their efforts with maximum points -  keeping them in touch with the top three. Thoughts now turn to next week's long trip north to take on Alnwick, weather permitting!!!  See you there.

League Results, here.

League Table, here.

Photography.  With the game kicking off at a late 3.00 pm, conditions were 'dark' by half time and not the best for capturing the action 'on film', as it were.  However, Bev Clough took some excellent shots, included with this Report.  Plus, there are more photos available to accompany the Hawks Report.  Finally, there's two Albums' worth of photos on Bev's Facebook page, here.

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