Impressive win under lights shows way to League Title.

HEATH U17s. With North of England centre Sam Pollard still injured and the ever-present prop Lewis Foxton ill, the Heath line up was somewhat different from the team that had triumphed emphatically earlier in the season. George Smith courageously stepping in to prop and Ezra Hinchliffe moving to 10 allowing Lewis McKenzie to move into the centres and Luke Denton come in on the wing. The game kicked off and was played at a frantic pace with Heath dominating both possession and territory for the majority of the first half. Richard Brambles was outstanding in the lineout winning Heath ball and the opposition’s as well. The scrums settled down as Smith started to get the hang of a quality front row. Peter Birkett was running the game from scrum half, talking his pack forward. The backs were eager to please, but tended to force the plays, after some great individual breaks - notably Hinchliffe and Sheldrake, where they would probably have been better to keep hold of the ball and go again. With a few minutes of the first half to go and the scores locked at 0.0 Doncaster were penalised, out wide, and Hinchliffe stroked over the penalty to send Heath into the break 3 nil up. With the possession and Territory Heath had had Coach Hetherington was keen to instil some calmness into the team and stop the errors. The second half kicked off and again the pace was phenomenal. Doncaster had decided that they would “bomb” fullback Jack Crabtree and both wingers, on any occasion - a ploy that kept Heath pinned back for long periods of time. Heaths defence then had to become relentless, as Doncaster turned the game around and had the majority of ball and territory, but they didn’t know what had hit them when, from a scrappy ruck, Heath came out with the ball. Birkett fed Sheldrake who stepped his man and hit the gas. His pure pace and power was too much for the Doncaster fullback and he crossed the line for a fine individual try just to the left of the posts. Hinchliffe pushed his kick wide as the Doncaster players charged his kick, 8.0. This score seemed to spur on Doncaster and from the next play a scuffle broke out and the two Scrumhalves were given 10 minutes to calm down! Doncaster kept on the pressure and pinned Heath back defending in their own 22 for long periods of time; eventually leading to another sin binning, this time to Johnny Porritt. The now 13 men of Heath’s defence was tested to the limit but their scrambling and commitment, led by Stephen Hare and Tom Kilner, was outstanding so that all players were back on the field with Heath still leading 8.0. Doncaster pressure eventually paid off and they went in, out wide, for what was a good try. The conversion was missed and this set up a frantic final 10 minutes. Doncaster threw everything at the Heath, but they would not give an inch. James Chin, who immediately halted a break down his wing replaced, Lewis McKenzie and Johnny Porritt was replaced by Kofi Brobbey, but not before he gave a Penalty in front of the Heath posts. Doncaster and England number 10 took the kick and, under enormous pressure, dragged it wide - a real let off. Play continued and Heath won phase after phase before time was up and kicked the ball out, taking what had been a massive win and 3 points back up the A1 to Halifax. Heath now have 2 games left in the season and can only be joined on points by Ilkley. A win at either Sheffield or home to Harrogate will give them the championship. Games are coming quick and fast for this talented squad with the Semi Final of the National cup at home this weekend against Lancashire Champions, Stockport, kick off 2pm Any support would be welcome.