A FLYING start bodes well for the season ahead!!

Heath’s Junior Colts first game in a round of pre-season friends couldn’t have got off to a better start following an inspired win against Lancastrian rivals Aldwinians. With eight of Heath’s squad unavailable for the match, hosts Aldwinians sportingly rotated their props onto the visitors side, a decision they may well have regretted since, just minutes into the game, the first of their ‘loan’ props ran the first, unconverted, try of the match in. Aldwinians then spent the next 10 minutes camped firmly in Heath’s half. Full credit to a physically smaller, and younger, team who defended well under consistent pressure. The tide did turn and when it did inside centre Jake Holmes seized the moment as he weaved his way to the line with Dom Ellam kicking his first conversion of the season. Aldwinians did manage to rally a fleeting reply with an unconverted try before half-time but Heath started the second half safe in the knowledge that they held the upper hand. A high tackle provided the first points of the half when fly half Dom Ellam successfully kicked the subsequent penalty followed almost immediately by his own converted try. Now in the groove, Heath consistently pressurised their opponents driving the ball in well. Heath captain, Max Netherwood added the next points following an excellent drive and pin neat pass from centre Callum Harriott-Brown. Harriot-Brown soon crossed for his own try. Jacob Storey converted both. Aldwinians did manage a further brace of unconverted tries but their fate was never really in question. Heath played excellently with notable performances from Sam Sharp, new recruit Kylie Tetley, Max Dawes and Liam Sykes, the latter two sharing a well earning joint Man of the Match for their efforts, Dawes for his work in the line-out and defence and Sykes for defence and some excellent, pacey drives down the wing, he was unlucky not to score. Heath’s overall performance must, in part, be due to their recent training programme under the guidance of the club’s Open Age coaches and players who also spared the time to encourage and support from the touchline ahead of their own match. Loan player 1st try Jacob Holmes 2nd try Dominic Ellam 3rd try, 2 conversions and I penalty Max Netherwood 4th try Callum Harriott- Brown 5th try Jacob Storey 2 conversions Scoreline 5-0, 12-0, 12-5, H/T, 15-5, 20-5, 22-5, 22-10, 29-10, 29-15, 36-15,