Excellent 90 minute performance, brings a great win!

Heath produced the shock of the season when they travelled to previously unbeaten Bridlington, who sat on top of Yorkshire 1 with sixty two points and looking odds on to gain promotion, and matched the home side in every department to fully deserved their win. This was not the result Bridlington expected but Heath had arrived full of confidence and had nothing to lose and everything to gain and put in a performance they had been threatening to do all season. The visitors welcomed back New Zealander Jordan Bradbrook to replace Eddie Cartwright at full back, Martyn Barnes replaced Howard Hanks at open side and on the bench were Olly Cook, Jordan Moana and Michael Reynolds. Bridlington kicked off and when Heath failed to gather the ball, quick hands from the home side back line saw wing Davies go in at the corner, converted by Dearing and a score of 7-0 after 4 minutes did not look good for Heath. However, Heath responded with some gritty, determined play and when Bradbrook went on a maizey run he was only stopped on the half way line. Bridlington's response was immediate and, when Heath were caught offside, they looked to further increase their lead - but the penalty attempt was wide. This spurred Heath into another attack and when James Robson, Bradbrook and Si Brown linked well, the ball was thrown back across the line through Ezra Hinchliffe and Jack Sheldrake who released Luke Saltenstall to go in at the corner for Heath first score 7- 5 after 13 minutes. Game on. Richard Brown at number 8 for Heath was controlling the scrums and, with James Robson's clever kicks, it came as no suprise to see Heath awarded a penalty which Hinchliffe put just wide on 20 minutes. Back came Bridlington and, after Chris Moore gave away a penalty to the home side, they elected to kick to the corner to set up a next attack. From the resulting line out, Bridlington won the ball and, from a rolling maul, up popped tight head prop Thundercliffe for Bridlington to increase their lead to 12- 5 after 22 minutes. Heath would still no lie down and, following good work from Brown and Baxter and another good run from Jordan Bradbrook, the home side's defence was under immense pressure and Hinchliffe added a penalty score to reduce the arrears to 12- 8 on 28 minutes. Still game on. It was an intense battle and after 35 minutes Matt Beasty and Fergus Marsden, who had both been everywhere around the park, were replaced by Olly Cook and Jordan Moana to keep the pressure up. Heath continued to win ball and as half time came they were full of confidence for the second period of play. At the start of the second half, Heath picked up where they had left off and a penalty on 42 minutes from Hinchliffe reduced the arrears to 12-11. Heath were rampant and, when Jordan Bradbrook put in a clever cross field kick, Ezra Hinchliffe ran and put in a grubber kick for the telepathic Jack Sheldrake to score a certain try. Unfortunately, Brid's open side Loubser pushed Sheldrake off the ball, before he could touchdown, but Si Brown was on hand to touch the ball and a try was awarded. The referee had no option but to award Heath a try and reduce Bridlington to fourteen players. The try was converted by Hinchliffe and Heath could sense a shock win could be on the cards, after 46 minutes - as they led for the first time 18-12. On 48 minutes, Bridlington re-took the lead. Following a lazy penalty from Heath, quick thinking from Brid's fly half Welch saw the home side re-take the lead with a converted try 19-18 after 48 minutes. The action was coming thick and fast and Heath were next to mount another onslaught but the home sides defence stood firm. Another penalty for Heath saw Hinchliffe convert and Heath led again 21-19 after 62 minutes. Marsden and Beasty returned to the fray as Cook and Barnes came off. The battle was still going on and Bridlington came back strong and scored a converted try on 73 minutes to take the score to 26 - 21 with the home sides supporters giving a huge sigh of relief as they looked to maintain their unbeaten run. From the restart, Bridlington did not gain the ball and Richard Brown was in possession when yet another penalty was awarded to Heath. A decision was made to go for the corner and, from the resulting line out, Beasty won the ball and from Heath play up popped Ben Maxwell to score a vital try - converted by Hinchliffe. Heath led 28- 26 with 5 minutes remaining. Once again Bridlington would not lie down but Heath could sense a vital win and tackled like demons to keep the home side at bay as they wound the clock down. When Dom Walsh got the ball from a Heath scrum his huge kick downfield released the pressure and, with the whole team backing up, Bridlington could not find a way through and as the ball was knocked forwards the referee blew for full time and Heath had gained a momentous victory.