Injury add to woes of first Loss of Season.

Heath senior Colts. Heath were well beaten on Sunday against a very strong, organized team. Heath, missing the leadership of the influential Hare at 8, started with the slope and wind behind them and pinned Wharedale back in their own 22 for long periods, but could only manage a penalty for their endeavours. With Hinchliffe back at 10 after his injury he tried in vain to break the line but the Wharfedale defence tackled every thing that was thrown at them. Heath lacked inventiveness, neither the forwards or backs could string anything together and when what looked like a perfectly good try, from Jordan Moana, was disallowed, you got the feeling this wasn’t to be their day. Peter Birkett was his usual self, bossing his forwards and not taking a backwards step when he covered back to make a try saving tackle after the Wharfedale backs had evaded Heath’s midfield with ease. It was from the resulting play that they were awarded a penalty and the scores were level. 3 – 3. Heath were looking to their big game players to take the match forward but on this occasion they were unable to finish off what breaks were made, Sheldrake going close after beating the defence before slipping with just the fullback to beat. The second half was going to be a struggle, the wind and rain had increased and Heath also had the disadvantage of the slope. Wharfedale were soon to register the only try of the game and again it was lack lustre tackling that allowed them to score out wide, conversion missed. 8 – 3. Hetherington made some changes - putting Pollard into the centres and Hare in at 8. Hare making a difference straight away with his presence and it was not long before the Heath forwards had taken play up into the Wharfedale 22 with some strong running and set piece pod plays. Johnson, Wilkinson and Marsden were relentless in their efforts along with Crabtree, Moana and Porritt. Brambles was winning everything at the lineouts. Heath were giving yardage away on a regular basis, as the official found fault with a lot of their play. With 10 minutes to go, they were on the ascendance and were camped under the Wharfedale posts when the Yorkshire centre, Jack Sheldrake, was injured with what looks like bad Knee ligament damage. From the resulting play, after a long break, Heath were unable to cross the line and again were adjudged to have infringed. Wharfedale cleared their lines. There was just enough time for Heath to give away another penalty and allow the home side an 11-3 victory.