A Brilliant Performance from Every Single Player!

Heath kicked off in perfect conditions and the home side received and controlled the ball well with a series of well-executed forward drives. Strong Heath tackling was preventing any progress by Westcombe who opted to kick down field, which was gathered by Max Sheldrake. He eluded the first up defence and passed to fullback Jack Ledgard to slice his way through the heart of the home defence and feed out to Jack Sheldrake on the left flank. After rounding the winger, he presented the ball to the supporting Ezra Hinchliffe for him to beat the full back to the post’s for a try to ease his own conversion. Heath 7 Westcombe 0 on 5 minutes. A marvellous start and real evidence of what Heath can do with the ball. Unfortunately on 10 Minutes, Heath’s try machine of late, Jack Sheldrake had to leave the field with a re-occurrence of a previous knee ligament injury he was replaced by Adam Parkinson. Westcombe Park now showed their rugby expertise, primarily with their powerful and very well drilled forwards who won most of the scrums and lineout’s. Although Heath tackled ferociously, magnificently lead by Captain Stephan Hare the home side were gaining confidence and with all the ball a try was inevitable and with the conversion it was 7 a piece on 12 minutes. With no ball coming from the set piece Heath had a lot of tackling to do and with only one visit by Heath in to the home territory in 25 minutes, Westcombe scored another 7 pointer on 33 minutes. The Kent based boys were now playing confidently and on half time their sprightly winger scored a superb try under the posts. Heath 7 Westcombe Park 21 and worse was yet to come for the West Vale side. A perfect Combe second half kick off enabled their second row men to get a hand to the ball which dropped into the arms of the speedy scrum half who raced in to bring the score to 26 points to 7 and a mountain for Heath to climb. Heath always looked dangerous when they had the ball and whilst in the Combe half the visitors spun the ball out to the right and back to the left for Jack Ledgard to score in the corner and with a touch line conversion from Hinchliffe the score was now Westcombe 26 Heath 14. Almost immediately, Westcombe’s Man of the Match and stand off scored an impressive individual try wide out. 31 points to 14. The game had really opened up and was suiting Heath’s natural flair for running, both sides were throwing everything at this game and there was clearly a lot at stake. Johnathan Poritt stole the ball at the back of a Combe line out and weaved up field before off loading to Hinchliffe then to Birkett and finally for Jack Ledgard to score his second try out wide this time superbly converted by Sam Pollard. Westcombe 31 Heath 21. Heath were now well and truly on top of this game with the forwards now providing ball from scrum, line out and loose play, Combe conceded a penalty and following a quick tap in the Heath half the ball was transferred through several pairs hands and finished with Sam Pollard out pacing the Westcombe’s defence to touch down, Hinchliffe’s conversion bounced off the post to leave the score at 31 points to 26 and only 2 minutes remaining. Heath controlled the ball from the Westcombe kick off and were again making rapid progress towards the line, Jordan Moana powering down the touch line and at 5 meters out and whilst being tackled he slipped the ball inside only to see it fall into Westcombe hands, who ran into touch to save the game in the most nail biting of finishes. The Heath boys should be very proud of their never say die attitude, natural talent, and freedom given from coach Hetherington to run freely with the ball at every opportunity which almost saw them through to the National final. Westcombe Park is without doubt one of the best sides this Heath team has played and we wish them well in the final.