HEATH CRUISE PAST MIDDLESBROUGH AFTER EARLY SCARE

Selection:  

1. J Pilcher  2. A McFadden  3. C Moore  4. A Patrick  5. P Hampshire  6. B Stringer  7. J Cole  8. T Clough

9. S Cox  10. C Johnson  11. J Haynes  12. E Hinchliffe  13. C Harriott-Brown  14. S Fletcher  15. D Cole

16. J Morrison  17. J Beck  18. O Cook

Scorers:

Jake Haynes 2 tries Jack Pilcher 1 try Tom Clough 1 try Ezra Hinchliffe 1 try Sam Cox 1 try
Chris Johnson 6 cons

Report:

Heath travelled up to Teeside to take on mid-table Middlesbrough, looking to round off the year with a win to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. Pete Hampshire replaced the injured Seif Boussaada while Jack Pilcher started at prop with Olly Cook having a stint on the bench alongside Josh Beck and Joe Morrison. Conditions were perfect with the game kicking off at 1.30pm and with the Heath faithful in attendance to swell the crowd.

Heath, in a change shirt of yellow, kicked off and there were early penalty exchanges as both teams tested each other out. Middlesbrough went looking for an opening score, but the visitors were in no mood to concede and put in some big tackles to keep them at bay. However, it was not Heath's day with line outs - losing several opportunities to open their score with poor choices and this inspired the home side into mounting attacks on the visitors defence. On the half hour mark, Olly Cook and Josh Beck replaced Chris Moore and Alex Patrick.  Both quickly settled into the game and when Dan Cole collected the ball, kicked through and gave chase he was beaten to the ball by flying wingman Jake Haynes who touched down in the corner for the opening try, converted by Chris Johnson and Heath led 7-0.

A mistake from the home side at the re-start saw a Heath scrum on the half-way line. This was won by them, with the ball spun out along the backs and Sam Fletcher going close. Olly Cook was in support as Heath claimed the ball which came back across the line for Haynes to score his second try, again converted by Johnson and unexpectedly Heath were ahead 14-0 as the half time whistle sounded.  

It had been a stop start first half for Heath, who came out early for the second half looking to expunge their mistakes and get off to a flying start.

Middlesbrough kicked deep but Chris Johnson's huge 50-20 clearance return found touch and it was a Heath line out. Pete Hampshire collected the ball and the drive was on, with Olly Cook and Tom Clough going close, before Jack Pilcher scooped up the ball to drive over for a score, Johnson added the extras and it was 21-0 with forty-two minutes played.

Middlesbrough tried to respond but it was a different Heath and when Tom Clough intercepted a loose ball on the half-way line he sped over for a bonus point,  converted try, 28-0 with forty-seven minutes played.

Heath were finding form as the home side struggled and their cause was not helped when they had a player yellow carded. Sam Fletcher and Ben Stringer made way for Joe Morrison and Alex Patrick as Heath tightened the screw and, following some sublime inter passing between Dan Cole and Ezra Hinchliffe, the latter crossed the try-line for a fifth try - again converted by Chris Johnson and Heath were cruising 35-0 with twenty minutes left to play.

Middlesborough tried to combat the onslaught but when Joe Morrison picked up the ball on the half-way line he evaded several tackles before kicking inside and Sam Cox was on hand to collect to score a sixth converted try, 42-0 with ten minutes left to play.

Middlesbrough looked a spent force but great credit to them for battling away and they eventually broke the Heath defence with a try, 42-5, but in the final minutes Heath were showboating as they piled on the pressure before the referee brought the game to an end.

The win saw Heath extend their lead at the top of the table to ten points after Harrogate lost away to Blaydon with Alnwick maintaining third spot after hammering Cleckheaton at home. So as 2025 comes to an end it has been a superb year for Heath. Twenty six league and cup games played with only two defeats and a trophy in the bag. What next for 2026 we will have to wait and see.

Merry Christmas to my reader and as always see you in January when we entertain Penrith.  

League Results:

Here.

League Table

Heath now 10 pts clear, here.

Photography:

Courtesy of Bev Clough.  More of her photos can be found here.

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