Must win game - Won.......

Heath completed their first double of the season and clinched their first five point hau' when they entertained North East club Acklam in this Yorkshire 1 clash. Heath team had a settled look about it as Lewis Barrett came in for the unavailable Jack Sheldrake and Chris Piper got a start for Olly Cook after being on the bench. Eddie Cartwright made a welcome return after injury alongside Jordan Moana.

The ground was heavy but the sun shone brightly as the visitors kicked off and put the home side under pressure. A series of errors from Heath did not help their cause in the first few minutes as both teams missed passes and struggled to get any fluidity into the game.

On 12 minutes, Si Brown was sin binned for a high tackle and Acklam had an opportunity to take the lead on 15 minutes but the penalty attempt was well wide. It had been a lack lustre start from Heath in the first quarter of the game and when play fell down once again on the half way line a hopeful kick through saw Acklams Tom Hughes win the chase for the ball and open their account with an unconverted try 5 - 0 on 22 minutes. Heath needed to respond and, after Brown came back on to the field, pressure from the Heath forwards resulted in a penalty and Ezra Hinchliffe reduced the arrears, 5 - 3 on 30 minutes.

This seemed to inspire Heath and a break from Jordan Bradbrook saw Ben Maxwell in support. He then moved the ball across the park as Acklam players struggled to come to terms with the Heath onslaught and three players were left strewn on the ground injured as the referee blew for them to be treated. From a scrum Richard Brown controlled the pack and with the try line in sight Ben Maxwell went over for the first Heath try on 35 minutes. Hichliffe added the extras and Heath had the lead 10 - 5.

Brown, who was suffering with a heavy cold, came off and Jordan Moana slotted in to his position. Heath were now dominant and when Bradbrook broke again and linked in with Luke Saltonstall, Acklam were really struggling to cope. Next' Dom Walsh and Saltonstall linked well to set up a line out 10 metres from the visitors line. Matt Beasty won the ball and from the maul Tom Baxter scored Heath's second try and the score of 15 - 5 looked ominous for Acklam as they now seemed doomed. Olly Cook came on for Chris Piper and the first half fizzled out with Heath in control.

It was the worst possible start to the second half for Heath as Acklam scored a breakaway try on 43 minutes to reduce the arrears to 15 - 10 as they came out fighting. The Heath response was immediate as Baxter, Beasty and Chris Moore pounded into the Acklam defence and although there were several mistakes from both sides a kick through from Ezra Hinchliffe saw him win the chase for the ball and score a third try for Heath who led 20 - 10 after 48 minutes.

Lewis Barrett came off and was replaced by Eddie Cartwright. But Heath had gone back into their shell and allowed Acklam freedom which they once again took advantage of, scoring a breakaway try on 56 minutes to reduce the arrears to 20 -15. Heath once again had switched off and a missed penalty shortly afterwards from Hinchliffe did not help settle the nerves.

Piper and Brown came back on for Moore and Howard Hanks as coch Dave Harrison looked to bolster the Heath defence. Yet another break from Acklam on 62 was halted by Fergus Marsden who had chased back as Ackllam gained in confidence. On 66 minutes Heath mounted an attack and slick handling from Cartwright, Hinchliffe and Moana resulted in a penalty and Hinchliffe converted 23 -15. This seemed to inspire Heath and they went looking for the bonus try point. Acklam could not cope again with Heaths powerful pack who began to set up the backs to enable them to throw the ball around and it came as no surprise when Luke Saltonstall rounded off a great move to enable Heath to score in the corner. Hinchliffes conversion was precise and a lead of 30 -15 on 76 minutes looked unassailable. But, Acklam would not  lie down and came back looking for a bonus try point putting the Heath defence under a considerable amount of pressure and, although Saltonstall was sin binned, Heath's defence stood firm as the referee blew for full time.

This was a game of stops and starts for Heath but the win puts them well clear of the bottom four clubs and with a game in hand against local rivals Old Brodleians on the horizon next week they must look for more consistency in their game which both teams will be looking to win for different reasons.