SECOND HALF COLLAPSE SEES HEATH WELL BEATEN

Selection
15 Callum Harriott-Brown 14Elliott 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 Seif Boussaada 5 Peter Hampshire 6 Alex Patrick 7 Harvey Keighley-Payne 8 Tom Clough 16 Chris Johnson 17 Jonny Garrity 18 Josh Crickmay

Scorers
Ezra Hinchliffe 1 try. Chris Johnson 2pens 1 con

Report

Heath made the long trip North to take on Alnwick in a re-arranged game following the postponement in December. Both teams were in good form and with a large crowd in attendance they were expectant of witnessing a close game. Bright sunshine greeted the teams as they entered the field with a swirling wind and as the home side kicked off an infringement from Heath saw Alnwick keep possession and after several passes they touched down for a converted try, 7-0 with a couple of minutes on the clock perfect start for the home team disastrous for Heath.

From the re-start Heath managed to get possession but the wind was not helping and the home side were using this to their advantage. An injury to Joe Morrison, after ten minutes, did not help their case as Chris Johnson came on and Heath re-shuffled. Alnwick were once again on the attack. A super run from Harvey Keighley-Payne saw Heath make valuable yardage and when Chris Johnson's kick found touch, in the corner, an opportunity for a score arose, but line-out was lost and the chance was gone.

The first twenty minutes were end to end as both teams looked for an opening, before Jack Pilcher made way for Josh Crickmay to enter the field and he was quickly into the action. Callum Harriott-Brown went on a jinking run before releasing the supporting Elliott Knight who went for the line but was held up by some superb cover work from the home defence.  Heath were rewarded on thirty-five minutes with a penalty conversion from Chris Johnson, 7-3.

It was a fast open game as both teams looked to add to their tally and a chance came for the visitors when from a penalty Johnson found touch in the corner. However, once again, line out ball was lost and the chance had gone. On the stroke of halftime Heath were awarded a penalty on the half-way line but Johnson's kick just fell short and the whistle sounded.

It had been an excellent first half from two fully committed teams but Heath must have been kicking  themselves that they had not taken their chances.

Jonny Garrity replaced Seif Boussaada at the start of the second half but when Heath were awarded a penalty in the first minute Chris Johnson's attempt went wide. Heath continued to press for a score and the travelling supporters were aggrieved when a seemingly errant line out from Alnwick went unchecked, the home side pounced. A clever kick saw a chase for the ball which was won by Alnwick who scored a converted try to extend their lead 14-3 with forty-five minutes played.

From the re-start, Jack Bruce collected a high ball as Heath went on a charge and were rewarded with a penalty, converted by Johnson, 14-6 with forty-eight minutes played. Alnwick responded immediately, keeping possession and pulling the visitors defence apart and were rewarded with a converted try on fifty minutes 21-6.

Alnwick were now playing with confidence and finding open spaces and when yet another line out was missed by Heath, Alnwick pounced with a try, 26-6 and the game was slipping away from Heath with just over a quarter of the match left to play. They needed to respond but, as Heath pressed the home defence once again, a mistake in their twenty-five saw Alnwick boot clear and the chase was on - running the full length of the field for a converted try, 33-6.

The game looked dead and buried for Heath, but a clever kick from Chris Johnson saw Ezra Hinchliffe pounce with a converted try, 33-13, with fifteen minutes left to play. The game was gone as Alnwick kept possession and Heath were chasing shadows. Jack Pilcher returned for Alex McFadden and, as Alnwick pressed, Heath were guilty of several offences resulting in a card for Chris Moore.  From the re-start the hosts were rewarded with a converted try, 40-13.  As the final whistle sounded Alnwick were triumphant and Heath trudged off the field.

One game to forget for the Heath players and the faithful who had made the long trip north. Lucky socks are now in the wash ready to wear at next week's home game against Blaydon hoping for a change in fortune. See you there!!!!!!!

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