A good win and Bonus Points too!

HEATH SNR COLTS: West Park arrived at Heath with a much bigger outfit than had narrowly lost the week earlier on their home pitch. Heath had hoped to field a near full squad but lost Hare to a damaged toe and Luke Matthews to a broken leg in the school game on Saturday and with Crabtree and Hinchliffe still injured the squad was again pushed to the limit. Peter Birkett replaced Matthews at 9 and was influential in all that Heath did, directing the forwards and getting speedy ball out to Max Sheldrake at 10. With Pollard and Sheldrake together again in the centres Heath’s powerful backline was throwing the ball out with aplomb and both wingers Kofi Brobbey and Adam Parkinson were unlucky not to put points on the board early on. The forwards, lead impressively by Johnny Porritt, were winning ball and working tirelessly in the loose. The first score of the day came, however, from Adam Parkinson - out wide after some great handling through the backline, Pollard missing the conversion. Coach Hetherington had set the tone for this match and had drilled the team that defence was key! And, as expected, West Park tried hitting back straight away but the Heath defence held out and allowed Pollard to clear the line. Max Sheldrake was enjoying the extra time on the ball and was cleverly kicking for position and probing his backline with simple ball. The forwards were now dominating in the set plays with a power house front row of Moana, Wilkinson and Rondene Johnson getting the upper hand in the scrums and with Marsden and Brambles dominant in the lineouts. It was from a set play that the ball was flung out down the line with Porritt there to finish for Heath’s 2nd try, Pollard successful with the kick from out wide. Heath now leading 12 nil. The second Half was much the same, Pollard swopping in at 10 for the injured Sheldrake allowing Ledgard to join in the back line. Heath were now rampant and the 3rd try was soon to come, Pollard and Sheldrake linking up, Pollard releasing Sheldrake under the posts with a sublime reverse pass to an equally sublime line, Sheldrake the scorer, Pollard Converting. Much of the same continued, West Park continued to work tirelessly and never gave up and they were keeping Man Of The Match Ben Coney Critchley very busy at fullback, but Heath were now sniffing a fourth try - for the Bonus points which have eluded them in the previous two games. It wasn’t long before Heath forwards had set up a great position and the ball was slung out to Rondene Johnson who wasn’t going to be stopped as he barnstormed over the line for his first try for the club, Pollard converting, Heath now leading 24 nil. West Park were still probing and they got what was a deserved try soon afterwards. This again kicked Heath back into action and the backs were now rampant. The final two tries of the day were scored out wide by Adam Parkinson for a well deserved hat trick on his home debut. With the result now sealed there was still one more break of significance; when Jordan Moana opened his legs and crashed trough the line, to make 50 yards, handing off tacklers before unselfishly feeding the ball out wide to Ledgard who was unfortunately tackled into touch, near the line. Next week sees Heath take on Wharfedale, away, in what is expected to be a fiery game.