The Seconds keep on winning!

Heath 2nds. Heath travelled to Barnsley to take on their counterparts in a Merit Table game, full of confidence from the previous weeks excellent win against West Park Leeds. Heath had the advantage of a slight breeze in the first half but put themselves under immediate pressure from the kick off which was fumbled into touch between their 22m and 10m line. Barnsley took the ensuing line out and put Heath under the cosh for a sustained period of play. This led to an infringement by the Heath defence in their own 22m area, but the Barnsley outside half failed to capitalise missing the penalty kick at goal. However, Barnsley continued to press and a further penalty under the posts was conceded but the kick was somehow missed once more. Heath then began to get themselves into the game and shortly after right wing Steve PULLAN had been replaced by Steve CROMIE, due to a leg injury, Oliver COOK kicked a penalty on 16 minutes to open the scoring. Barnsley came back strongly but some dogged and determined defence from the Heath boys ensured that they did not concede. Just as it appeared that Heath would have to be satisfied with a 3-0 half time lead, they upped their play in the last 5 minutes of the half during which they scored two tries. The first came from a Heath scrum approximately 30 yards from the Barnsley line. Outside half, Martin SHAW, took the ball and ran through his opposite number before powering to the line making it a try a game in his last 4 matches. The try was converted by Oliver COOK. Increasing the lead to 10-0. Three minutes later, a Barnsley move in midfield was overturned by Heath, the ball finding its way into the hands of number 8, Neil SMURTHWAITE. He made ground before timing his pass to left wing, Rob OWEN, to perfection some 40 yards from the Barnsley line. Rob still had plenty of work to do being close to the touch line but he remained in the field of play and outsprinted two home defenders to score an excellent try. Although the conversion was missed, half time was reached with the cushion of a 15-0 advantage. Heath knew that Barnsley would come back at them strongly in the early period of the second half - which they did. However, Heath stuck to their task and although they were being regularly penalised for offside infringements, Barnsley were unable to break the visitors stubborn and effective resistance. Michael STEAD had to leave the field after 65 minutes being replaced by Mark MATTOCK. Barnsley did manage to open their account in the 73rd minute when, after conceding a penalty from a line out 7 yards from the Heath line, their wing forward took a quick tap penalty and forced his way over. The relatively easy conversion was missed by the outside half who was having a desperately poor kicking game. The score was now 15-5. Heath got themselves back up in to the Barnsley 22m area where they camped for several minutes. However, from a long kick downfield, the ball was adjudged to have touched a Heath defender prior it becoming dead. From the 5 yard scrum, the ball was taken by the Barnsley outside half who ran through a large gap scoring next to the posts. He converted his own try but the referee immediately blew for “No side” and Heath were celebrating a 15-12 victory over a team who had scored 40+ points against the visitors in last seasons corresponding fixture. There was a number of very good performances but the man of the match awards went to Neil SMURTHWAITE for the forwards, who led the pack brilliantly throughout and young Rob OWEN for the backs. This is now 4 wins in a row for the 2nd xv who are gelling into a very good, confident and close unit under the leadership of Emlyn JAMES. Long may it continue.