Heath Wake Up Too Late!

RUGBY UNION - YORKSHIRE ONE – HEATH 21 vs BRADFORD SALEM 28 Heath welcomed ‘Salem’ to North Dean in what was to be a big game for both clubs, each desperate for league points to claw their way from the foot of the league. Alfie Blackhall came in on the left wing as Callum Harriet-Brown took his turn on the bench, alongside Mark Puttick and Olly Cook. In perfect conditions, Heath kicked off but it was Salem who quickly found form and put Heath under the cosh. The game sprang to life when, at a scrum on the Heath 22, the home side pushed the visitors back. The referee allowed advantage to scrum half Dominic Walsh and he passed quickly to Lewis Barrett who released Jordan Bradbrook. The fullback scythed through the Salem defence and then threw out a long pass in the direction of Blackhall who went in at the corner. A superb touchline conversion by Ezra Hinchliffe put Heath in front: 7 – 0 with 14 mins gone. From the re-start, the Salem scrum half was sin-binned for disagreeing with the referee. Heath needed to make the numerical advantage count. The home pack was in control and Salem were finding it difficult but, much against the run of play, their No.14 Nick Fontaine intercepted a pass and ran almost the full length of the field to score a try under the posts, providing fullback Danny Belcher with an easy conversion: 7 – 7 and 19 mins gone. Chris Moore was sin-binned three mins later for a high tackle. Mark Puttick came on for Ben Maxwell. It was Salem’s turn to press and from a penalty on 30 mins they found touch 10 metres from the Heath line. After winning the lineout, the visitors went over for their second try which the fullback again converted: 7 – 14. Moore came back on and Puttick returned to the bench. Heath were proving susceptible to the break and Salem again ran almost the full length of the field on 38 mins only for Heath’s Howard Hanks to claim the ball but also to give away a penalty. Salem were on the attack as half time approached. Harriet-Brown came on for Blackhall and Cook for Chris Piper. Heath began the second half well and were look for openings. Jack Sheldrake charged a ball down and it was picked up by his fellow-centre Lewis Barrett, followed by hooker Tom Baxter. On 48 mins, Heath were awarded a penalty when Salem were pulled up for obstruction but Hinchliffe’s kick went just wide. From the off, Heath continued to pressure Salem but when the visitors kicked through the ball bounced kindly for them and another try was scored under the posts, converted by the fullback: 7 – 21 on 55 mins. Heath had no answer to Salem’s quick break and conceded the bonus-point fourth try on 60 mins. The conversion made it 7 – 28 and it appeared to be ‘game over’ as far as Heath were concerned. Moore, Baxter and Barrett were taken off and Blackhall, Piper and Puttick came back on. Heath continued to put in the effort but made mistakes at crucial times allowing Salem to hold firm. However, with 5 mins left there was a consolation try for the Heath with Richard Brown touching down after the Heath pack surged forward. Hinchliffe converted: 14 – 28. Heath continued to batter Salem with Walsh, Hinchliffe and Sheldrake urging the team on. Matt Beasty won lineout ball and Hanks went over for a try, converted by Hinchliffe: 21 – 28 with 2 minutes left. From the re-start, Bradbrook set off on a charge, with Sheldrake and Blackhall in support, backed up by Hinchliffe. Unfortunately, the ball went into touch, heralding the final whistle, just when the most unlikely turn-around seemed possible. Heath had managed to snatch a point from nowhere to shift them another notch up the league. With a week’s respite more of their players will have time to recover from injury before their next league encounter away to Beverley.