100 percent effort doesn't quite do it.

Heath welcomed unbeaten Scarborough to North Dean, looking to give a good performance and hand out a first defeat to their East Coast rivals. Changes to the team resulted from the late withdrawal of Rob Thackeray and Stephen Hare. Mick Gleeson started at fullback, Lewis McKenzie wing, Matt Hallett centre and Josh Lister wing. The pack welcomed the return of Chris Moore and Koffi Brobbey with Ian Downsborough and Hamish Pratt changing places. Hamish took the No. 8 spot and Ian the unfamiliar role of open-side wing forward. On the bench were Olly Wilby (carrying an injury), Cameron Ramsden (who played a blinder for the Development Squad last week) and stalwart, the ever dependable, Roger Hammond. Heath kicked off, but it was Scarborough who got into their stride quickly and on 4 minutes, following good inter-passing, Tom Ratcliffe went over in the left-hand corner and then converted his try: 0 – 7. Heath needed to react and respond. Good work from Gleeson and Ezra Hinchliffe, then Mark Puttick, Darren Neilly and Downsborough, got backs man of match, Matt Hallett, away but he was held up. The referee brought play back for offside and Hinchliffe obliged with a well-struck penalty to make it 3 – 7 on 8 minutes. Heath were coming to terms with the pace of the game and on 14 mins Brobbey had a great run before fullback Tom Harrison stopped him in his tracks. Pratt was being instrumental at No 8. Downsborough charged down a ball to release Hallett, Hinchliffe, Miller and eventually Josh Lister who went over in the corner. The conversion was missed but Heath were in front: 8 – 7 on 17 minutes. Second-row Neilly was looking strong and with Hunter in support Heath looked good, but when Scarborough’s centre Jan Tieber broke free he was able to pass to wing Ratcliffe who romped over once again on 22 mins. The conversion attempt failed but Scarborough had reclaimed the lead: 8 – 12. At this stage, the Scarborough back line was continually breaking through the Heath defence and only a forward pass prevented a further try on 24 mins. Pratt made a splendid break but didn’t pass to the unmarked Miller outside who looked certain to have scored a try on 27 mins. Heath were penalised for offside on 33 mins. Ratcliffe increased the visitors’ lead: 8 – 15. Heath came back strongly with Dom Walsh, Hinchliffe and Downsborough looking to break through but Walsh’s kick went dead. Just before half time, although the crowd disagreed, Moore was adjudged to have stolen the ball and Ratcliffe’s well-struck penalty increased Scarborough’s lead to 8 – 18. Scarborough looked to pounce again but McKenzie saved the day with a touch-down over his line as Scarborough finished the half on top. Heath started the second half with Cameron Ramsden on for centre Euan Miller and play was pretty even for the first few minutes. Then Scarborough conceded a penalty just inside Heath’s half which Hinchliffe converted superbly to reduce the deficit: 11 – 18. There was little to choose between the sides for the next 15 mins but Scarborough began to give away penalties which Heath hoped to capitalize on. Surging runs from the front row men, the very impressive youngster, Rondene Johnson, Moore and Puttick just failed to produce a breakthrough. Scarborough fought back and Heath were found offside on 67 mins but Ratcliffe missed the penalty. There was still time left and Wilby came on for Pratt and Miller back on for McKenzie, but Heath had to defend stoutly to cling on to the game as Scarborough took a grip on the closing minutes. When the referee blew the final whistle, Heath had gained a losing bonus point from a hard-fought game. This was a defeat but no disgrace and they will look to re-group and prepare for Ilkley next week.