Playing with 14 Men proves an impossible task - Just.

Heath entertained Wath in their first league game of the season, looking to avenge two defeats last year inflicted by the South Yorkshire visitors. In came debutante Rondene Johnson and Stephen Hare for absentees Chris Moore and Kofi Brobbey with Rob Thackray in for the injured Mark Baxendale. Sam Pollard, Hamish Pratt and Louis McKenzie were on the bench. Heath kicked off and from Wath’s return kick Ian Downsborough made a superb 30m run before being stopped. Continuous attacking play from Heath involving Jamie Watson, Ollie Cook, Mark Puttick and Johnson eventually forced Wath to concede a penalty within 2 minutes, which Ezra Hinchliffe duly converted: 3 – 0. Wath came back strongly but good defence from Heath kept them out. Next, Jack Sheldrake kicked through perfectly for Si Brown to chase but the ball was put into touch by Wath about 10m out. Neilly and Hare linked well to set up the next phase of attack. Then on 10 mins an injury to Watson saw Pratt enter the fray and, as Heath reorganized, Wath attacked with Bray going over for a try on 12 mins as Heath floundered. The try was converted by Appleyard and the visitors went 3 – 7 ahead. A mistake from the kick-off saw a Wath scrum. Then, an attempted clearance kick to touch from Heath was charged down by Balshaw who went over for a second Wath try in as many minutes. This was converted by Appleyard putting Heath up against it at 3 - 14 on 15 minutes. Heath needed to re-group, and quickly! On 20 mins, Gleeson kicked ahead to give Thackray a clear chance but he was obstructed. Awarded a penalty 10m out, Heath chose to go for touch. Watson came back on, replacing Pratt. Heath went on the attack and good play from Downsborough, Hare and Puttick got the captain near to scoring. Johnson and Neilly were supporting well and from a scrum Johnson went over in the corner to open Heath’s try account on 25 minutes. An excellent conversion by Hinchliffe from the touchline reduced the deficit to 10 – 14. Cook cleared a loose ball and Wath, struggling in defence, gave away a penalty on 28 mins. Hinchliffe converted and the score was 13 – 14. Heath had done well to get back into the game. Unfortunately, as half time approached Cook was sent off for a high tackle resulting in Heath having to spend the entire second half with 14 men. Deep into first-half injury time, Wath were caught offside as Brown and Miller chased a long ball. Hinchliffe edged Heath ahead, 16 – 14, and the referee blew for half time. Hare came off injured and Pratt went on, then, within a minute, Watson had to come off so Hare went back on and Heath reorganized the scrum. However, following lazy covering from the back row Wath were able to dance through for an easy try on 46 minutes. Bray’s try and Appleyard’s conversion put Wath in the lead by 16 – 21. From the re-start Wath gave away a penalty but Heath's kick went just wide. Pollard replaced Sheldrake on 48 minutes as Heath struggled to cope with being a man down. On 52 mins, despite the efforts of Wilby and Downsborough, fullback Burke went over for a try, converted by Appleyard and Wath increased their lead to 16 – 28. A response was needed from the West Vale outfit but they were creating their own problems by not finding touch. From a lineout, Walsh, Hinchliffe and Pollard linked well to release Gleeson and Brown, the latter only just putting a foot in touch as the tryline beckoned on 60 mins. Pollard was instrumental in setting up the next attack, linking with Walsh and Miller. Then Wath’s Hopkin was sin-binned for deliberate interference off the ball. At an uncontested scrum, the ball came Heath’s way and Neilly went for the line but Wath cleared. With 15 mins left, Gleeson came off and McKenzie went on to make an immediate impact. An inspirational run from Downsborough released Walsh and Miller who was held up, on 67 mins. Heath were not to be denied and when slick passing between Pollard, Miller and McKenzie put Brown away he slid in for a try on 72 mins. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but Heath were within a score (worth a league bonus point) at 21 – 28. Heath seemed inspired and were playing well enough to win the game. They continued to press and yet again quick-thinking Downsborough set up the young backs. As Thackray went for the tryline the referee blew for a forward pass. The clock was winding down and Wath were pleased to slow the game down to the final whistle. Heath’s bonus point was hard-earned by the second-half performance of their 14 men who battled to keep them in the game.