What a Costly Penalty!

Following on from a well deserved win last weekend and with no league game arranged, a friendly was organised to give the lads some game time. This wasn't any ‘friendly’ either, the game was against Huddersfield, a team which is based in the area of which many of the Heath players come from, and have some players with familiar faces. This game had been greatly anticipated by players and spectators alike and looked as though it was going to be an exciting prospect. Although Huddersfield are two divisions above Heath, no one could make there mind up on who they’d put their money on. Huddersfield have been on a poor run of form and Heath had the potential to cause damage to the less confident Huddersfield outfit. Although both teams had injuries problems to deal with, each side easily fielded fifteen players plus subs. It didn't look that way from the early scrummaging though, as Huddersfield looked as though they had fourteen players in their scrum, probably due to the fact their pack looked twice as heavy as Heaths. This didn't faze Heath though, as the forwards looked up for a good contest and the backs looked well organised and dangerous from the off. The game looked even in the first ten minutes but, from his own half, Huddersfield’s man of the match Isaac ran the ball through the middle of Heath’s defense and scored the first try of the game (0-7, converted try). The game carried on in the same way for most of the first half and the possession between the teams yo-yo’d back and forth with numerous chances for either side. Unfortunately, Huddersfield finished their chances better and scored a second try (0-12, unconverted try). Half time score fell in Huddersfield’s favour. Heath started the second half in need of some creativity in order to put some points on the board…and they did just that as they made their way into the Huddersfield half and kicked the ball into the corner. The ball fumbled through a couple of pairs of hands and ended up in Jack Fox’s grasp, as he was already over the try line, all he had to do was drop to the floor and score the five points (5-12, unconverted try). Now Heath had some points in the bag, they looked a lot more motivated than they did before the second half, their play looked a lot sharper and more organised than before and many we're predicting a second Heath try. The majority were right to predict because Heath found some more space in the middle of the park and predictably, yet effectively, spread the ball into the midfield from a well developed forward move and handed the ball to the backs spear head, Callum Harriott-Brown, who then ran the ball round the outside right, beat everyone for pace, easily, and put the ball down over the line. (12-12, conversion by replacement scrum-half, Domonik Moorhouse). As the game was now neck and neck each team were desperately finding a way to get some extra points on the board, and because it wasn't long now until the final whistle, the team who got the points next would surely win the game. Huddersfield found themselves in Heaths territory and like the majority of the game contested the rucks, mauls and set pieces well which forced Heath to make a final mistake just in front of the sticks, the penalty was given and Huddersfield scored the final three points which handed them the game. (12-15, penalty conversion). Although Heath lost the game, they can be proud of the performance they put in this weekend against an opposition two tears above them. From watching as a spectator this week I (supplier of these words and injured Heath prop) definitely saw a lot of positives in Heath’s play and if we can string together some good performances in the next couple of weeks we will have the momentum and clearly the potential and team spirit to go and win the league. Notable performances from the ever consistent Jack Bruce who has now won Forwards Man of the Match twice in two weeks and Kyle Tetley who had his best game since joining the club as he looked dangerous all game and got around the park well