A WIN'S A WIN..............

Heath travelled to North Leeds for this re-scheduled cup game against Yorkshire Two opponents Yarnbury, looking to progress to the quarter final stages. Following an overnight deluge the pitch was expected to cut up and, with a slippery ball, handling was likely to be difficult. Heath got off to the worst possible start when Yarnbury kicked through and Si Brown, the Heath winger, failed to boot it into touch, conceding an unconverted try in the corner to put the home side ahead: 5 – 0 on 3 minutes. Ezra Hinchliffe’s re-start didn’t go 10 metres and from the resultant scrum Yarnbury built another attack. 8 mins passed before Heath had their first real phase of play with Chris Moore and Mark Puttick linking well. Then Peter Birkett and Hinchliffe released Ewan Miller and Jack Sheldrake but the move broke down. Ryan Hunter fed Birkett from a lineout and he got Sheldrake, Miller and Darren Neilly through. Yarnbury were found offside when Neilly gave the ball back to Miller. Hinchliffe kicked the penalty to pull the score back to 5 – 3 on 13 mins. Yarnbury came back on the offensive but Neilly upset their move with an interception though he just failed to hold on to the ball on 16 mins. Hamish Pratt, Heath’s No.8, was beginning to have an influence on the game as the home side was regularly being pulled up for offside. Heath needed to score to press home their improving advantage. On 22 mins, Birkett made an excellent break from a scrum and with Neilly in support at the ruck the ball came out to Hinchliffe who finished with a try. His conversion put Heath in front and apparently in control at 10 - 5 on 24 mins. However, Yarnbury had other ideas and on 28 mins went over for a well-worked try in the corner as the Heath defence floundered. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful leaving the scores level at 10 – 10. The visitors were winning most lineouts and from one, Hunter collected to feed Birkett, Hinchliffe and Miller but his pass to Sheldrake was dropped. At the scrum, Heath won the ball then Yarnbury gave away a penalty. Neilly, Puttick and Moore had several runs at the line but were held up short. Heath still looked for a way through and were camped in the home 22 on 36 mins. Just before half time, Yarnbury broke clear and nearly scored before Hinchliffe kicked the ball into touch on half time, relieving the pressure. Heath needed to up their game, re-group and start to exert their latent authority. Coach Kevin Plant really laid the law down to his charges, demanding more from them. Three minutes after the re-start, Neilly was sin-binned and soon after Miller was pulled up for a high tackle. Yarnbury sought to score from a lineout in the corner but as the home side pushed Puttick managed to get the ball for Birkett to clear the lines on 46 mins. A clever kick through from Rob Thackray had Yarnbury struggling and with Pratt in support Heath were on the attack on 48 mins. Zac Dewhirst came on when Sheldrake was injured. Neilly came back on and Heath had not conceded. Duncan Edwards came off and Kofi Brobbey joined the pack, with Olly Cook moving up to prop. On 55 mins there was a chance for Yarnbury to take the lead with a penalty but the kick went wide. It was anybody’s game at this point. A good run from Pratt set up the next Heath attack but Yarnbury came back strongly and were held up over the try-line by Alex Cust and Dewhirst on 59 mins. Yarnbury continued to attack as Heath clung on desperately and, on 63 mins, from a scrum and a clever missed pass, the home full-back had ample room to beat a lone defender and score a try near the posts. It was converted and Yarnbury were 17 – 10 in front. Heath refused to lie down and quickly responded with several attacking probes before Pratt went over for a try which Hinchliffe converted to draw level at 17 – 17 on 68 mins. Yarnbury’s next attack was thwarted and Heath struck back with Hinchliffe, Miller and Dewhirst releasing fullback Cameron Ramsden but the move was halted, on 73 mins. It then became a high ball kicking game with both sides looking for an opening. Thackray was stopped in full flight by an ankle-tap with Brobbey up in support. As full time approached, Yarnbury gave away a penalty and, from far out, Hinchliffe converted: 17 – 20. From the re-start, Birkett knocked on and from the scrum Yarnbury looked for a score during time added-on. Heath maintained their discipline and clung on for the final whistle and a lucky win against worthy opponents in a typical, hard-fought cup-tie. A win is a win and a quarter final place is a nice early Christmas present!