Good start to the Season

Heath hosted York today in the first game of the season ahead of their Yorkshire cup game next week against Malton and Norton. Heath started well with some excellent defence, both in the lineout and the scrum. Vince, Issac and Josh holding strong stopping York from gaining any advantage. Josh playing his first game at hooker and Issac stepping up to prop. Both Alex and Lewis started at second for the 1st time. Jesse and Jacob playing at flanker with Nathan bossing it at Number 8. York did eventually sneak in for a try in the corner after some sustained pressure but Heath fired back with the controlled distribution from Junior and Will, centres Max and Nico connected with Adam foster who accurately put Sam into space for him to power over the line for his first try for heath! The conversation was excellently taken by Junior. 

From the kick off Heath pushed up the field again with some powerful running from Vince and Isaac , backed up by outstanding work in ruck by Jesse and Alex. Unfortunately the referee penalised Heath for offside which gave York a foothold in the Heath 22, from the following lineout York carried the ball in waves, to be pushed back time and time again. Only for another penalty to be awarded to York. York eventually popped over the line for a try making it  7-14 after the conversion. From the kick off Heath increased their energy in attack and up popped Jesse again with an excellent turn over, Alex carried like a man possessed and sonny glided down the wing only to be tackled at the very last minute. York executed their lineout well and after a strong tackle from Jesse the referee awarded the penalty to York and a yellow card for Heath. Down to 14 men Heath rallied, motivated to work hard for Jesse and the team. Excellent work from Nathan and Jacob allowed the team to push up the pitch and gain huge momentum. York were penalised this time for falling over the ruck off their feet. Junior postured as if to kick for the corner, turned and placed an outstanding high kick right on top of the York try line. It’s not surprising that Adam leaped in the air to catch the ball before placing it down for his first try of your season. The guy never gives up, scoring a similar try last season. Junior stepped up again with an excellent kick to make it 14-14. From the kick off Jesse returned to the field, immediately enhancing the team’s morale. Adam put in a huge kick up field landing on Yorks try line. Heath chased well and eventually turned over the ball. Will continued to distribute accurately and picked some excellent cross field kicks for Sonny(playing up from under 15s) and max to gather. Heath looked like scoring again with a scrum on York’s line. However, the referee found fault in much of Heaths efforts, marching them back up the pitch penalty after penalty. Eventually Heath got the ball back after an heroic last ditch tackled from Alfie Cartwright (playing up from under 15s) which drove the York player over the dead ball line. Heath crashed out of their 22 with a powerful carry from Lewis, Issac and Nathan. Jesse surged forward looking to break the line but was taken down by 5 York players. In the ruck that followed a York player decided to hit Jesse in the face, Jesse did not retaliate and attempted to walk away. To the surprise to all the referee sent Jesse off again for a second yellow card. This put Heath down to 14 men. York tapped and went from the penalty and attempted to crash over the line. But Josh, Nathan and Adam had other ideas, driving the York players back and back again. Sonny popped with an interception and Alfie carved down the wing with outstanding ruck work from Jacob, Alex and Nico. Eventually the referee blew the half time whistle. 

2nd half. From the kick off Heath started strong, pressurising the York defence. Nathan put in a massive tackle, causing the York player to spill the ball, but the referee again called for a penalty, producing a yellow card. 13 men Heath rallied and held York for a long period of time, however York used their pick and go experience scoring their third try. 14-21. Captain Vince and vice captain Will rallied the lads and they surged down the field once more. From a penalty created by excellent ruck defence from Lewis, Junior kicked long down field to put Heath just inside the York 22 metre line. From an excellently executed lineout from Josh, Vince, Jacob and Issac, junior passed the ball under huge York pressure to Will who distributed to Nico, and Max. Junior spotted the gap on the blind sending  the ball to Lewis, Adam, Jacob and finally to Sam who powered over for his second try of the game. Outstanding rugby. The kick was again slotted by junior making it 21-21. 

York kick off and recovered the ball following a rare mistake the Heath forwards. But Alex rocked up with a huge hit causing the York attackers to spill the ball. Unfortunately again the Referee deemed it high and sent another Heath player off with a yellow. Putting Heath down to 13 men. A period of pressure followed with superb defence from Nathan, who had returned to the pitch, Nico, Will and Alfie. Heath turned the ball over pushing York into touch on a number of occasions. However again were penalised for infringements at the ruck. York eventually spread the ball from one side to another, sliding in for their 4th try. However they missed the conversion. 21-26. 

With 5 minutes left in the game, 14 men on the pitch and the referee keen to penalise. Heath could easily have given up, however an excellent kick off, following by a huge hit caused York to spill the ball. Heath controlled the scrum and up popped Nathan for a trademark unstoppable run powering over in the corner to level the game. 26-26. Junior stepped up and only missed the kick by inches. With minutes left Heath again came up against penalties and good York Attack. But everyone dug deep, put their bodies on the line and fought off the York efforts. The referee blew the final whistle for the game to finish 26-26.  A game which could have been won but a great learning experience for many players. Josh first game at hooker, Alex and Lewis first time partnered up in second row, Jesse at 7, Jacob at 6, Nico in the centre, Sam on the wing and Sonny on the other. We move forward and we will meet Malton and Norton next week with the same energy and more players. With the same ball retention, passing and set piece accuracy we will beat any team. 

Man of the match was Sam. 

Well done lads!