Injury hit Heath don't turn pressure into points.

Heath travelled to Teeside to take on a Middlesbrough side who many are tipping to finish in the top two at the end of the season and in an entertaining game the home side managed to secure all five points. Heath had several players out injured and were hindered in their preparations when Olly Cook pulled out of the squad in the warm up and so Paddy Kerr was drafted in at prop and Fergus Marsden, Martyn Barnes and Jonny Cole also started. Stand-off was new signing Dan Cole and Jacob Storey made a welcome return on the wing whilst on the bench were Mark Puttick, Michael Reynolds and Seiffe Boussadda.

In superb, sunny conditions Middlesbrough kicked off and with Heath in possession they made a strong surge into the home sides defence. Both centres, Ezra Hinchliffe and Eddie Cartwright, were prominent making strong runs before Martyn Barnes and Richard Brown ploughed into the home defence with the try line beckoning. Middlesbrough held firm and built their first attack but Dan Cole had his kicking boots on and put the pressure back on. The Heath pack were beginning to take control and a surge from Jonny Cole saw Hichliffe pick up and throw a long pass out to the supporting Jack Crabtree, a fumble but it was only a matter of time before Heath broke through. The break came on 18 minutes when from a line out Matt Beasty won the ball. Drives from Richard Brown, Jonny Cole and Alex McFadden enabled Dan Cole to scoop the ball up and jink over the try line to open the visitors account. Ezra Hinchliffe added the extras and Heath led 7-0. From the re-start Brown collected and bore through several attempted tackles before Dan Cole picked up the ball and ran fully 40 metres as Heath went in search of adding to their score. Middlesbrough had to respond and began to penetrate the Heath defence eventually scoring a converted try on 25 minutes when Durham County players Connor Foley, try, and Peter Homan, conversion, levelled the scores. The home side were gaining in confidence and on 28 minutes pulled clear with a penalty from Homan and then on 34 minutes Foley, try, and Homan, conversion, increased their lead to 17-7. Heath continued to work hard to keep in the game but Middlesbrough finished the half in control and Heath needed to re-group.

Mark Puttick and Seiffe Boussaada came on for Kerr and Beasty as coach Harrison re-shuffled his pack but the home side went on the attack from the re-start and lock Andy Marron scored an unconverted try for Middlesbrough to move their score on to 22-7 with 45 minutes on the clock. Heath's response was immediate and a clever kick from Dan Cole saw Jacob Storey scoop the ball up and with work still to do evaded a couple of tackles to score a try in the corner on 50 minutes. Ezra Hinchliffes superb conversion added the extras and a score of 14-22 meant it was anyones game. The next 10 minutes saw both sides batter each other as they went in search of more points and when Callum Harriett-Brown and Eddie Cartwright link up only an adjudged forward pass prevented a score for the visitors. Martyn Barnes made way for the returning Matt Beasty as Middlesbrough struggled to defend and Heath perhaps should have taken some points from several penalties awarded for Middlesbrough infringements but chose to continue to look for a try.

Pressure runs from Brown, Boussadda, Chris Moore and Alex McFadden could not penetrate the home defence as Middlesbrough stood firm. Puttick returned for Kerr and Michael Reynolds came on for Jacob Storey but the Heath effort was in vain and Middlesbroughs County prop Kieran Clark rubbed salt in the wounds by adding a bonus point try, converted by Homan, on 75 minutes and a score of 29-14. Dan Cole was injured in trying to prevent the score and made way for Storey to return but when Jack Crabtree was sin-binned the game had gone for Heath. Middlesbrough added a fifth unconverted try when full back Brendan Hill completed the scoring.

This was a sound first game from both teams with Heath just running out of steam and perhaps not getting the rub of the green but all credit to a very strong Middlesbrough side. Heath now need to bounce back and work hard on the training paddock this week as they prepare to take on Selby at North Dean next Saturday.