Late cry-offs disrupt start but Heath 16's work wins through

YORKSHIRE ONE - ACKLAM 6 vs HEATH 15 Heath took the route north to lowly Acklam knowing they were expected to record their second away win of the season but well aware of the potential ‘banana skin’ that could await them. The programme showed a side with 5 changes from the previous week, but when Heath took the field there were 10 changes to the programme (5 positional). Josh Lister (wing), Jack Sheldrake & Sam Pollard (centres), Olly Wilby (flanker) and Hamish Pratt (No.8) replacing very late cry-offs and absentees. In damp conditions Acklam kicked off and immediately put Heath under pressure. On 4 mins, Acklam were awarded a penalty and went 3 – 0 up (allegedly, to lead in a Yorkshire One game for the first time). For the first 10 mins, Heath conceded lots of penalties and had little possession. It wasn’t until the 15th minute that the visitors set foot in the Acklam half, courtesy of a penalty kick from Ezra Hinchliffe. Then Sheldrake made a strong run before being hauled down. This inspired good interplay between Hinchliffe, Pollard, Lister and Peter Birkett, then between Birkett, Hinchliffe and Si Brown as Heath looked to find gaps in the home defence. Towards the end of the first quarter, Heath were beginning to find their feet in the intermittent heavy rain with Birkett playing a very influential game and taking control. Acklam were caught offside on 25 mins. Hinchliffe levelled the score: 3 – 3 and the sun shone again! The Acklam pack was winning more ball but Mark Puttick and Wilby put in good tackling stints. With the score 3 - 3 at half time this was certainly not a classic encounter but Acklam had performed better than their league position suggested whilst Heath struggled to find any fluidity. On 51 mins, Dominic Walsh entered the fray when Pratt went off; necessitating a further re-shuffle as Walsh took over the scrum half berth. Walsh made an immediate impact, releasing Hinchliffe who got Pollard away. Unfortunately, the inside pass to Wilby could not be controlled when the try-line beckoned. On 54 mins, Hinchliffe was wide with a penalty attempt. On 57 mins, Acklam were awarded a penalty with which Heath disagreed, resulting in it being marched 10m nearer, right in front of the posts and Acklam took the lead again: 6 – 3. Acklam were playing with more enthusiasm as Heath struggled to gain any momentum. On 67 mins, Brown chased through as Heath tried to get going but the ball went dead. Alex Cust, Chris Moore and Birkett were prominent as Heath began to redeem themselves. With 10 mins remaining Heath were pressing the home try-line but having no luck or choosing the wrong options. Lister, Birkett and Cust linked cleverly to produce an opening 15 metres out but a pass was adjudged forward. At the resulting scrum Heath won the ball and it was moved to Sheldrake who scored a try wide out, leaving a difficult conversion which was missed, but crucially the score moved to 6 – 8 in Heath’s favour. Then a series of kicking mistakes followed and from one Pollard picked up and kicked over the top. Sheldrake scooped up the ball and went over for his second try which Hinchliffe converted: 6 – 15. Heath were safe. Acklam had run out of steam in the last ten minutes! This difficult away win was attributable to the sheer doggedness and determination of Heath’s team. Though not a pretty spectacle the match was a good contest and the four points gained were very welcome.