ALNWICK SNATCH WIN TO END HEATHS UNBEATEN RUN

Selection:

15 Dan Cole 14 Joe Morrison 13 Callum Harriott-Brown 12 Ezra Hinchliffe 11 Jake Haynes 10 Chris Johnson 9 Sam Cox

1 Chris Moore 2 Alex McFadden 3 Olly Cook 4 Alex Patrick 5 Fergus Marsden 6 Ben Stringer 7 Jonny Cole 8 Harvey Keighley-Payne

16 Elliott Spiers 17 Josh Beck 18 Carter Haigh

Scorers

Jake Haynes, tries x 3.

Chris Johnson, pens x 2.

Timeline of scores:

Here

Match Report

Heath travelled up the A1 to take on second place Alnwick in a top two clash. A win for Heath would get them nearer to winning the champions title while Alnwick were looking for a bonus point win to keep in touch with the leaders. Alex Patrick and Jonny Cole returned to the pack while Callum Harriott-Brown recovered from injury to start at centre with Sam Cox also returning at scrum half. Josh Beck and Carter Haigh joined Elliott Spiers on the bench. Heath supporters were out in force joining the large Alnwick crowd with both expecting a battle and they were not to be disappointed.  

Conditions were near perfect with bright sunshine greeting the teams as they entered the arena.  Early exchanges tested each other out before a clever kick from Dan Cole who found touch in the home 22 set up the first opportunity, but Alnwick were strong at the line out and the ball was cleared.  Alnwick went on the attack but Heath were in determined mood not to concede and, following a penalty, Chris Johnson stepped up to get Heath on the scoreboard, 3-0 with twelve minutes played.

Alnwick's response was immediate, putting the vistors defence under severe pressure and on eighteen minutes they scored a converted try to take the lead 7-3.  This seemed to inspire Heath into action and they were rewarded with a second penalty conversion from Johnson to reduce the arrears, 7-6, with twenty-five minutes played.

The crowd were being richly entertained as both teams battered each other but, following a barn storming run from Harvey Keighley-Payne into the Alnwick 22, a resulting penalty saw Chris Johnson find touch. Heath were keeping possession with some super ball handling skills exposing the home defence and when Dan Cole slipped a pass to Jake Haynes, the flying wingman crossed over for an unconverted try and Heath re-took the lead 7-11 just after the half hour mark.

However, that was short lived as, from the re-start, a mistake allowed Alnwick to collect the ball and a short kick over the vistors' defence saw a sprint for the ball won by Alnwick to cross over for another converted try, 14-11 with five minutes to half time.

It was end to end rugby as both teams looked for another opening and with the crowd captivated Joe Morrison went on a mazy run before being tackled and when the ball came out to Jake Haynes the wingman crossed the whitewash  in the corner for his second try, 14-16, as the half time whistle sounded.

The first half saw some tremendous rugby worthy of the top two clubs in the league and it was hopefully  more of the same please as the players emerged for the second half.

The opening minutes saw Heath begin with a tremendous surge of rugby and they were rewarded with a third try for Jake Haynes to extend Heath's lead to 14-21 with forty two minutes played. However, the home side next powered over for a try in the corner and, with the conversion hitting the post and bouncing dead, saw a score of 19-21.

Olly Cook and Fergus Marsden made way for Carter Haigh and Josh Beck and both were quickly involved in the action as the game ebbed and flowed but on fifty minutes Alnwick regained the lead with a converted penalty, 22-21.

The game continued to be a real battle with the crowd tense and waiting for another score. Just before the hour mark Elliott Spiers came on for Joe Morrison and he was quickly involved in the battle as both sets of players put their bodies on the line. Heath tried hard to get a score but deep into injury time a break from Alnwick and a couple of missed tackles saw them cross the try-line in the corner and a final score 27-21 as the home crowd went wild.

 The result saw Heath lose for the first time this season as Alnwick gained maximum points to narrow the gap at the top with Heath having a nine point advantage. Three games left to play and Heath still require seven points to clinch the title. Time to get me lucky socks washed and hung out to dry before we next travel to fourth place Ilkley in two weeks. As always see you there!!!!

League Results.  Here.

League Table.  Here.

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Photography:

Andy Keighley & Garf '