Heath RUFC Halifax

Selection.

Chris Moore, Alex McFadden, Josh Buller, Ben Stringer, Pete Hampshire, Tom Stansfield, Harvey K-Payne (Cap't), Tom Clough.

Tom Egan, Chris Johnson, Jake Haynes, Ezra Hinchliffe, Harry Harrison, Cliff Howard, Callum H-Brown.

Jonny Cole, Dan Smith, Seif Boussaada, Zac Baker, Lewis Taylor.

Scorers

Tom Egan try x 1. Pete Hampshire try x 1. Jake Haynes try x 2.

Chris Johnson convs x 3.

Scoring Time-line. Here

League Results. Here.

League Table. Here.

Match Report.

Heath made history when they travelled over the Pennines to take on Preston Grasshoppers in their debut National League 2 North encounter.

After a busy summer of recruitment and training, they gave debuts to eight new signings which included an additional two substitutes in a squad of twenty players and with a healthy group of supporters in attendance they were looking to get off to a good start.

Bright sunshine greeted the teams as they entered the arena and the artificial pitch lent itself to a fast open game and it did not disappoint.

Grasshoppers kicked off deep into the Visitor's half as Heath collected the ball and fired it back up-field and a mistake from the home side saw Chris Johnson kick for touch from the penalty. Line out ball was collected by Ben Stringer and as Heath drove for the try-line Tom Egan was on hand to dummy over for Heaths opening try, converted by Johnson, 7-0 with two minutes played, what a start!

From the re-start Egan caught ball and booted it back into the home side's half and yet another mistake enabled Heath to collect ball. Heath remained patient going through the phases and another infringement by the home side saw Johnson find touch from the penalty. Line out once again was secured, Heath drove forwards and Pete Hampshire bounced his way over the line for their second try, again converted by Johnson, Heath led 14-0 with eight minutes on the clock and the home crowd were left stunned!

However, Preston did manage to respond and from winning line out ball drove over for a score to reduced the arrears, 14-7 with twelve minutes played. This did not phase Heath and they replied with some slick handling and, with Egan controlling the game the Grasshoppers, were under the cosh.

With twenty-five minutes played the home side manged to mount an attack and they were rewarded with a converted try, 14-14. Chris Moore and Pete Hampshire made way for Dan Smith and Seif Boussaada as Heath looked to re-group but a couple of mistakes saw the home side capitalise - taking the lead with a slick move to go under the posts, 21-14, and then from the re-start Heath gave away a penalty converted by Grasshoppers and led 24-14 as the half time whistle sounded.

It had been a rollercoaster half and, hopefully, it would be more of the same as the second half began.

Tom Egan was replaced by Zac Baker as the visitors pressed for a score and from a line out, with Grasshoppers struggling, Jake Haynes looked to have scored but the referee disallowed the try and sin-binned a Grasshoppers player. Against fourteen, Heath began to turn the screw as Chris Moore and Jonny Cole replaced Tom Clough and Josh Buller. Following constant pressure from Heath Chris Johnson slipped a pass to Jake Haynes and the speedy winger touched down in the corner, 24-19, with a quarter of the game left to play.

Heath continued to play possession rugby as they probed to find an opening and once again Johnson and Haynes linked up well for the wingman to cross over the try-line for a bonus point fourth try. Johnson added the extras and Heath led 26-24 with ten minutes left to play.

The big question was could Heath hold out as Grasshoppers mounted an onslaught but some stunning defensive work from Heath kept them at bay. Ben Stringer and Jake Haynes had to come off as the home side continued to press but, deep into injury time, they were awarded a penalty which was converted and Grasshoppers had snatched the win, 27-26, much to their relief.

Heath went into the game looking to put in a workmanlike performance in their first ever National league encounter. They battled throughout the eighty minutes but were denied by a last minute penalty conversion. As they say onwards and upwards as preparations begin for the home visit of Hull Ionians next week. As always see you there!!

Accompanying photos.

Bev Clough. More of Bev's photos on Facebook, here.

John Baker

Dave Garforth