Superb win against the Brods.

Heath First XV. IF Heath were to take Old Brodleians’ place in Yorkshire One for next season none of those present at Saturday’s Yorkshire Shield quarter-final clash at West Vale would be too surprised. Heath, seemingly embroiled in a scrap with Knottingley for the second promotion place in Yorkshire Two, were thoroughly convincing winners against a Brods side whose tenure of a Yorkshire One place hangs by a thread. Heath have clearly made further giant strides this season under coach Kevin Plant and they had the upper hand from the first whistle on Saturday, even though the visitors had their noses in front for a matter of seconds at 3-5 just before the half hour mark. With their confidence apparently undiminished after a first defeat since November at Selby the previous week, Heath’s enthusiasm, work rate and no little skill eventually proved too much for the shell-shocked visitors. Their areas of particular dominance were reflected on the scoresheet. The threequarters showed a cutting edge and supported well, resulting in tries for outside centre Martin White (two) and winger Simon Brown, while the back row won plenty of ball in the rucks and ran powerfully, scores for Joe Shipman and Ian Downsborough rewarding their unit. The only area in which Brods gained parity – unusually for them – was in the scrums and front rowers Joe McArthur and replacement Dan Raika appropriately claimed their five-pointers. Both sides were hit by late defections, Heath losing prop Mike Lammas and scrum half Richard Cole while Brods were without full back Adam Standeven and lock Matt Willis. Heath started brightly and although stand off Ryan Piper gave them the lead with a third-minute penalty, his mixed bag of kicks and some wayward passing from his fellow backs let the visitors off the hook early on. Alastair Gordon was dominating the centre of the lineouts for the home men while veteran Brods No 8 Phil Horton was proving a handful for the home defence and it was his clever inside pass which enabled McArthur, who is on loan from Halifax, to storm to the try line after 28 minutes. Heath replied immediately and then never looked back. Late inclusion Oliver Wilby caught an overthrown lineout ball by Brods and received good support from Eddie Blackmore to create a position in front of the posts from which White forced his way over. Piper converted and made it 17-5 at half time by adding the extras to a 35th minute score from No 8 Downsborough after a move down the right from half-way featuring Brown and Shipman. Brods player-coach Jamie Bloem brought himself on for the second half and made an immediate impact with an angled 35 metre penalty, only for his forwards to lose possession on their own 22 and White to weave his way past opposite number Andy Clay for an unconverted try. That made it 22-8 and things got worse for the visitors when Heath’s Brown and Shipman scored twice in the space of six minutes to start rubbing the visitors’ noses in it. Piper penalties on 72 and 79 minutes – the second award should probably have gone to Brods and summed up their afternoon – completed the home side’s tally. The visitors at least had the last word in the game’s final action when Raika reached out to plant the ball over the line and Bloem converted.