HEATH RUN IN EIGHT TRIES TO SECURE VITAL WIN AGAINST SELBY

Selection
15 Jack Bruce 14 Jake Haynes 13 Callum Harriott-Brown 12 Ezra Hinchliffe 11 Elliot Knight 10 Chris Johnson 9 Dom Walsh 1 Olly Cook 2 Alex McFadden 3 Josh Crickmay 4 Jonny Garrity 5 Pete Hampshire 6 Ben Stringer 7 Harvey Keighley-Payne 8 Tom Clough 16 Max Rowntree 17 Seif Boussaada 18 Chris Moore

Scorers
Jake Haynes 4 tries Harvey Keighley-Payne 1 try Olly Cook 1 try Ezra Hinchliffe 1 try Alex McFadden 1 try    Chris Johnson 6 cons 1 pen

Report

Selby were the visitors to North Dean as Heath welcomed back from injury captain Harvey Keighley-Payne and Dom Walsh but had to make an enforced change with Alex Patrick un-available so Jonny Garrity made a start. Josh Crickmay also started as Chris Moore took a seat on the bench alongside Seif Boussaada and Max Rowntree, called up late when Joe Morrison pulled out with an injury.

Bright sunshine greeted both teams and a large crowd had assembled hoping for a good game and they were not to be disappointed, in a high scoring encounter.

Heath kicked off, playing towards the Stainland Road end and put early pressure on the visitors defence, but it was Selby who, in their first attack, threw the ball around scoring an unconverted try in the corner, 5-0 with five minutes played. Heath responded by going back on the attack, but were guilty of mistakes at crucial times, though, from a Selby mistake, Harvey Keighley-Payne kicked through a dropped ball and gave chase winning the ball and scoring a try, converted by Chris Johnson, 7-5 with ten minutes played.

Heath were upping their game and the visitors struggled to come to terms with the pace but proved difficult to break down.  After winning line out ball Heath drove towards the visitors try-line. Selby defended well, but when the ball was played across the Heath backs, Jake Haynes was on hand to cross for a try in the corner, superbly converted by Johnson and Heath led 14-5 with a quarter of the game played.

Shortly after a penalty from Johnson increased Heaths lead, 17-5. The visitors were struggling to stop the onslaught and had a player carded.  When the Heath pack drove to the try-line, Pete Hampshire and Ben Stringer were held short but Olly Cook scooped up the ball to score a try, converted again by Chris Johnson, 24-5.

Time for change and on came Seif Boussaada and Chris Moore replacing Jonny Garrity and Olly Cook and both were quickly involved as Heath had a bonus point incentive to add to the score, being prepared to throw the ball around.  When Ezra Hinchliffe saw a gap he skated over the try-line for another converted try, 31-5 with five minutes left to half time.

And finally, a super phase of play from Tom Clough, Ezra Hinchliffe and Harvey Keighley-Payne delighted the home crowd with Selby glad to hear the whistle for half time.

The start of the second half saw the visitors open with some strong runs and were rewarded with two converted tries, in quick succession, to reduce the arrears, 31-19 with fifty minutes played. Heath needed to respond and suddenly sparked into action, with some big hits from Chris Moore, Seif Boussaada and Josh Crickmay whilst, with ball in hand, Jake Haynes was there to worm his way over the line for a try, 36-19.

Cook and Garrity returned to the action as Crickmay and Keighley-Payne took a well deserved rest and Heath continued to look to add to their tally. Once again the boot of Chris Johnson set up a chance, finding touch in the corner with a 50-20 line and from the catch and drive Alex McFadden emerged with the ball for a converted try, 43-19 with twenty minutes left to play.

Max Rowntree came on for Dom Walsh as the visitors responded and despite having another player carded they scored a try, 43-24 with ten minutes left. Once again, Heath came back positively and when Chris Johnson and Tom Clough linked up the latter released Jake Haynes to score in the corner, 48-24.  From the re-start superb runs from Callum Harriott-Brown and Elliot Knight saw the ball eventually come to Chris Johnson who kicked a cross field ball for Jake Haynes to chase down for his fourth try of the game, once again converted by Johnson and a final score of 55-24 was just reward.

Credit must go to the visitors Selby who played a big part in a very entertaining, high scoring game but it was Heath who emerged with maximum points to move up to third in the league with four games left to play. Next week, we welcome second place Huddersfield for yet another massive game for both clubs as they try to chase down leaders, Scunthorpe. Get down early and see you there!!!! 

Remember:

More of Bev Clough's Heath photos here

League Results for this 'catch-up' weekend.  Here.

League Table.  Here.  HEATH NOW 3RD.

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