Heath’s 8 try romp sees them through to the semi final of the Under 18’s National Plate.

Near perfect conditions at Heath greeted the Northampton side who kicked off with the slight breeze at their backs. Initially play was intense and hectic and mainly concentrated in the Heath half, until a crunching tackle from Jonny Porritt dislodged the Northampton ball. It was quickly picked up and fed on to Jack Sheldrake who raced clear only to be brought down five metres from the try line. The ever present James Wilkinson was on hand to collect from the breakdown to burrow between the posts. Sam Pollard added the conversion to make it 7. 0 on fifteen minutes. Play continued still predominantly in the home half and two long range penalty opportunities were missed by Northampton. The Heath forwards were now providing lots of ball and from another Stephan Hare turnover Ezra Hinchliffe cruised past the visitors defence for the second try under the posts. Pollard adding the extras 14. 0. Richard Brambles disrupted a Northampton line out on half way for Stephan Hare to break free, gallop up the wing and pass on to Fergus Marsden for the honours. Conversion missed 19. 0. Centre partners Jack Sheldrake and Sam Pollard were making ground regularly and it was Sheldrake who burst through to score with Pollard adding 2 points with the conversion on halftime. 26. 0. The second half saw Heath in confident mood and yet again clean line out ball from Brambles, a 20 metre drive from the forwards and man of the match Pete Birkett darted blind for a try in the corner. Conversion missed. 31. 0. This game was not all Heath and the Northampton side ran the ball at every opportunity but the West Vale defence stood firm and from a five metre lineout the Heath eight drove for the line with Fergus Marsden claiming the try. 36. 0. The Heath running game was now in full flow and with the two power houses from Rugby League Gorge Fairbank and Jordan Moana thumping up field it wasn’t long before Birkett was going over for his second try. Heaths final try was the best of the day with several players inter passing and Jack Ledgard using his considerable pace to finish in style, conversion by Hinchliffe, 48. 0 In the dying minutes of the game the Old Northamptonians scored a well deserved converted try bringing the final score to 48 points to 7. Heath now progress to an away semi-final against either Cambridge or Westcombe Park on Saturday 21st April