HEATH'S OPENING FIFTEEN MINUTE BOMBARDMENT SEES OFF LEADERS SCUNTHORPE

Selection
15 Jack Bruce 14 Jake Haynes 13 Callum Harriott-Brown 12 Ezra Hinchliffe 11 Joe Morrison 10 Chris Johnson 9 Dom Walsh 1 Olly Cook 2 Alex McFadden 3 Chris Moore 4 Alex Patrick 5 Pete Hampshire 6 Ben Stringer 7 Sam Sharp 8 Tom Clough 16 Elliott Knight 17 Jonny Garrity 18 Josh Crickmay

Scorers
Alex McFadden 1 try Jake Haynes 1 try Callum Harriott-Brown 1 try Jack Bruce 1 try
Chris Johnson 3 cons 2 pen 1 drop goal

Report
Heath travelled over to take on table toppers Scunthorpe looking to keep momentum going but were forced into several changes. Jack Bruce was moved to full back to accommodate the return from injury of Joe Morrison on the wing, while Sam Sharp started for the unavailable Harvey Keighley-Payne and Tom Clough came in at 8. 

There was a sizeable crowd, boosted by the usual following from Heath, hoping to see a good battle as both teams entered the field and they were not to be disappointed.  But it was the Heath contingent who were the most surprised by what they were to see in the first quarter.

Heath kicked off and as Scunny tried to punt the ball back, Alex McFadden charged the ball down before collecting to score under the posts, converted by Chris Johnson, 7-0 in the FIRST minute! From the re-start, a high punt from Dom Walsh was chased down and collected by Tom Clough who linked up with Callum Harriott-Brown who slipped the ball to Chris Johnson before he released Jake Haynes for the winger to score in the corner. Johnson added the extras, 14-0, with THREE minutes played!!

Scunthorpe were shell shocked as they tried to keep hold of the ball but when Callum Harriott-Brown intercepted a pass he raced for the line to score a third try, once again converted by Johnson, 21-0 with SEVEN minutes played!!!

The home crowd could not believe what they were seeing while the Heath supporters were shell shocked as Heath continued to mount pressure on the home defence. An attempted drop kick from Chris Johnson fell just short but from a scrum Heath won the ball and passed it along the line for Jack Bruce to score the bonus point fourth try, 26-0 with FIFTEEN minutes on the clock!!!!

The next five minutes saw Heath on the defence as Scunthorpe tried to recover and when Dom Walsh was binned, then, from the line out, Alex Patrick was also carded, Scunthorpe were awarded a penalty try, 26-7.

Down to thirteen players Heath had to re-group but defensively they were on top form putting in some huge tackles and with Scunthorpe guilty of numerous mistakes there was no further score before Heath were back to full strength and on the attack again, looking to add to their tally.  Tom Clough went close dropping the ball as a try beckoned. Josh Crickmay came on for Olly Cook and he was quickly involved as the home side defended but from a long punt downfield they found the corner which resulted in them winning line-out ball and driving to the try line, 26-12 with five minutes left to half time.

Heath controlled the rest of the first half but welcomed the whistle, leaving a deflated Scunthorpe team out on the pitch as they went indoors for a well deserved break.

Elliott Knight replaced Joe Morrison at the start of the second half as Heath once again went on the attack with some slick handling and they were rewarded with a penalty conversion from Johnson, 29-12, with forty-five minutes on the clock. Scunthorpe did respond, but Heath were in determined mood, tackling like demons, to keep the home side at bay and just before the hour mark Chris Johnson added another penalty, 32-12.

Jonny Garrity replaced Sam Sharp as Heath looked to defend, losing Chris Moore to a card.  Pete Hampshire left the field with an injury, Olly Cook returned to the action. From yet another line out Scunthorpe collected and drove over for a try, 32-17, and they were now going in search of adding to their tally. Heath continued to tackle like demons as Moore  and Pete Hampshire came back on with Olly Cook off, and with ten minutes remaining Joe Morrison replaced Jack Bruce.

These changes did not affect the way Heath were playing and once again a super kick from Dom Walsh found touch in the corner. Line out ball was secured and a superb run from Jonny Garrity saw him halted short of the try-line and, as the ball went back, Chris Johnson produced a drop kick which sailed between the posts, 35-17.

Scunthorpe responded with a converted try deep into injury time, 35-24, but their game was lost and when the final whistle sounded there was a huge cheer from the Heath supporters as a response for what had been a fantastic performance from their team.

The win sees Scunthorpe maintain top spot and Heath remain fourth with the points gap closing as the season reaches a climax. Next week it's a short trip over to play Cleckheaton - another difficult game. What a season!!!! See you there! 

League Results (catch-up weekend).  Here

League Table.  Here

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Photography.  This week Bev Clough and Garf ' covered the game and Bev captured some excellent shots.  Unfortunately, Alex McFadden (Heath's first try) scored so quickly after KO that they hadn't fully set up and so  weren't ready to record it for posterity - great though it was......  

The rest of Bev's photos can be found on her Facebook page.  Here.

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Scoring time-line:

Try:  Alex Mcfadden  1’
Conv: Chris Johnson   1’
Try:  Jake Haynes  3’
Conv:  Chris Johnson   3’
Try:  Callum Harriott-Brown  7’
Conv: Chris Johnson   7’
Try:  Jack Bruce  15’
Pen:  Chris Johnson   45’
Pen:  Chris Johnson   53’
Drop: Chris Johnson   75’

Try Bonus Point achieved within 15 mins.