Put simply, Heath did not deserve to lose this one.

YORKSHIRE 1 HEATH 16  SCARBOROUGH 24

Heath entertained in-form Scarborough looking for a win after suffering an agonising defeat at Silver Royd back in November but once again they played the visitors off the park but failed to capitalise on the huge possession they had throughout the game and came away with nothing.

Michael Reynolds was given a start on the wing and Eddie Cartwright came in for the unavailable Jack Sheldrake at centre. Jordan Bradbrook also came back into the fold at full back and in early exchanges he was instrumental in linking up with Luke Saltonstall and Cartwright in the first real threat to the Scarborough defence after 5 minutes. Early exchanges saw Heath on the attack and Bradbrook was again prominent supported by the Heath pack with Olly Cook, Chris Piper and Richard Brown working hard in support. It was all Heath and when a penalty was awarded against Scarborough after 15 minutes of continuous pressure Dom Walsh elected for a quick tap when perhaps a kick at the posts would have been the best option. Heath continued to become encamped in the visitors half and a clever kick to find touch from Ezra Hinchliffe set up their next opportunity on 22 minutes. Ryan Hunter and Jordan Moana were added to the fray with Chris Piper and Martyn Barnes making way but Heath could not get through a solid Scarborough defence. The first real threat to Heath came in the 35th minute when Scarborough had their first attack of the game ending in a line out to the visitors. Heath gave away a second penalty and quick thinking from the the visitors allowed the winger to score a converted try and Scarborough led 7-0 at half time, much against the run of play.

There wasn’t a lot to say to the Heath players at half time only to keep going and at the start of the second half, with Alfie Blackhall on for Michael Reynolds, they picked up the intensity with Chris Moore and Ben Maxwell making early inroads and when Richard Brown and Tom Baxter set up Walsh his slick pass to Ezra Hinchliffe enabled Cameron Ramsden to receive the ball and he went in under the posts for a Heath try and the scores were level 7-7 after 54 minutes following an easy conversion for Hinchliffe. Chris Piper came back on for Olly Cook but from the restart Scarborough were awarded a penalty and an easy chance to retake the lead was missed. This should have been a wake up call to the home side as Scarborough maintained the pressure and a quick penalty from the visitors enabled them to score a second try in the corner on 57 minutes to lead 12-7. Heath responded with a penalty from Hinchliffe on 60 minutes and a second shortly afterwards and they took the lead 13-12 for the first time in the game. Un-detered Scarborough bounced back and following a series of mistakes from both sides saw them score a try in the corner to regain the lead 17-13 on 67 minutes. Back came Hath and a Hinchliffe penalty on 69 minutes saw a score 17-16 and it was anyones game. Scarborough came back strong yet again looking for a score and quick thinking set up a bonus point forth try in the corner adding the conversion saw them lead 24-16 on 74 minutes. Scarborough kept up the pressure on the Heath defence as they looked to wind the clock down and secure a win but when Ezra Hinchliffe took off from his own 22 in the dying minutes and kicked through he was joined by Jordan Bradrook as both chased the ball down but the visitors cover was there and kicked the ball dead. This was the last action of the game as the referee blew for full time.

Yet again after dominating for most periods of the game Heath failed to capitalise and were hit by the counter attacks of Scarborough who defended really well throughout the game.

This week's photos courtesy of Messrs Cook and Storey.