Heath stick at it and edge Victory in a fine game.

Heath welcomed Doncaster Phoenix for this Yorkshire Shield first-round encounter determined to open with a victory to mark the opening of the new clubhouse and facilities. The only change to the side was Dave Montgomery (missing) so Jeff Jones came in at No8. On the bench was Josh Lister. Play was even for the first 10 minutes as both sides tested each other out and the first opportunity to get on the scoreboard fell to Heath after Phoenix were caught offside. Ezra Hinchliffe obliged and Heath were 3 – 0 up on 10 minutes. From the re-start, once again play was in between the 22’s as both sides looked for a break. On 18 minutes, Doncaster had a lineout and Heath were under the cosh. After several infringements by Heath eventually Olly Wilby was sin-binned as Doncaster turned the screw. Heath sustained the pressure, cleared their lines and on 23 minutes Blake Butler, Doncaster’s blind-side back-row man, was sin-binned. For Heath, Ian Downsborough was controlling the lineouts and Hinchliffe was beginning to make his mark. Matt Baxendale went off following an earlier injury and was replaced by Josh Lister. Good work from Mick Gleeson, Jack Sheldrake and Dom Walsh set up a chance for Heath on 32 minutes. Once again, play was even before Heath’s new centre prospect, Euan Miller, broke loose to release Sheldrake but the referee blew up for an infringement. Play was brought back under Heath’s posts with 38 minutes gone. Gleeson, Lister, Sheldrake and Si Brown produced some superb interplay and Phoenix’s Daniel Hobbs tripped Brown as he sped through, for which Hobbs was sin-binned. Hinchliffe put the resultant penalty in the corner. Downsborough won the lineout and went for a push-over try, but Doncaster escaped from this and pressure was relieved on the stroke of half time. This was a close game with nothing between the sides as the second half kicked off. An injury to Butler saw Olly Rothwell take his place from the Doncaster bench on 43 minutes. Good work from Downsborough and new-signing and partner lock forward Darren Neilly set up Miller and Hinchliffe but a 'suicide pass' saw the latter held up. The penalty from an infringement allowed Hinchliffe to increase the lead to 6 – 0 on 45 minutes. For Heath, Jamie Watson came on for Jones in a shuffled pack on 53 minutes and Morris came on for Owen as Doncaster looked to open their account. Following sustained pressure from Phoenix, fullback Craig Deacon went through a static Heath defence to score a try on 53 minutes. Fortunately the conversion was wide so there was only one point in it, in Heath’s favour, at 6 – 5. Heath responded with good interplay from numerous players to set up the next game play but it came to nothing. Doncaster came back strongly and were awarded a penalty within comfortable kicking distance but to the amazement of their travelling support, elected to kick for touch. From the lineout came a push-over try and Doncaster took the lead : 10 - 6 on 60 minutes. Heath rang the changes with Jones coming on for Cook and Brobbey being replaced by Alex Gust as the home team looked to bounce back. Jack Sheldrake made a sparkling break but was brought down 10m from the try-line. Moore took it on, then a superb cross-field kick was fielded by Brown but he was held up, just short. Play was going from side to side on 65 minutes, with Heath exerting the pressure. Doncaster held firm but gave away a scrum. A good break by Hinchliffe, supported by Gleeson and Brown, stretched the Doncaster defence but it held. On 68 minutes, Captain Mark Puttick, Jones and Walsh combined well to set up Hinchliffe who broke for the line. His timely pass released Miller who scored a try on 70 minutes but unfortunately the conversion attempt grazed the wrong side of the posts giving Heath the slender lead of 11 points to 10. From the re-start, a poor pass was dropped and Doncaster had the scrum. Heath managed to win turn-over ball but the clearance kick was put straight into touch so play was brought back. The pressure was on but a great tackle from Puttick saw the ball overturned. Frantic play by both sides continued and a clever kick from Hinchliffe almost allowed Lister to open his account. The seconds ticked by with both sides striving for a win but the Heath team continued a sterling performance to the end. The reward was a great win for Heath and progress into the second round having beaten what will surely be one of the stronger teams in Yorkshire One this season.