Heath just miss out.

The rearranged semi-final of the Yorkshire Shield competition was played out in front of a good rugby crowd and on an afternoon where the fine, sunny conditions would give both sides the opportunity to play a fast, flowing game. Heath kicked off, however their visitors showed early nerves and knocked on. The home side looked to exploit this tension and immediately attacked via a Giles Hetherington chip, which winger Si Brown collected well, but was bundled into touch. At this point advantage was actually being played, so the ball was “brought back” for a penalty and Ryan Piper took the 3 points on offer via a touchline kick. 3 – 0 to Heath. Ponte’ countered straight from the restart, with a flowing 40 yard back movement that was finally halted by centre Martin White. The next attack was also nipped in the bud, this time by a crunching tackle from fellow centre, Chris Merrick. Loose ball was taken by Heath’s Hetherington, who broke out from fullback and released Fermoyle, until a foot in touch intervened. The visitors then picked up a penalty, from stand off Dean, to bring the score onto 3 a piece after 8 minutes of play, though they again fumbled the ball from the restart and Heath took advantage via a Shipman drive. Unfortunately, the scoring pass didn’t materialise and Pontefract snuffed out the attack. Heath’s winger Brown picking up an injury in the process and being replaced by Andy White on 14 minutes. Two quick penalties then took the visitors into Heath’s 22 and a third gifted them three more points from the boot of Dean. Another fumble at the kick off was redeemed by a ranging kick from the visitor’s scrumhalf, Fletcher. Then another penalty came their way, together with 3 points from Dean. Heath now trailing 3 –9 after 20 minutes. After one more penalty to Pontefract, Heath were finally awarded one, to ironic cheers from the homeside’s supporters. Piper kicked play into the visitor’s half and then took a 40 metre shot at goal when a further penalty came Heath’s way. This dropped short and Pontefract came back upfield until a powerful tackle from second row Nigel Royston halted their progress. Sadly, this was to no avail as the referee gave one more kickable penalty chance to the visitors and they duly obliged, moving on to 12 – 3 infront, on the half hour. Undeterred, Heath came back on the attack, running the ball into Pontefract’s 22. Piper then executed a perfectly balanced chip through but was held back, off the ball and with the line begging. Whilst the referee spotted the infringement, Heath were only awarded a basic penalty picking up 3 points rather than a potential 7. After this, the West Vale men stayed on the offensive with a barnstorming run from number 8, Ian Downsborough. A scrum came from this piece of play and Downsborough again took Pontefract on, first linking with the backs and then collecting the final pass to score in the corner. Piper converted from the touchline. This brought the score to 13 – 12, with only 2 minutes of the half remaining. Heath then worked hard to bottle up Pontefract and seemed set to play the half out. Unfortunately, play went on for another 10 minutes, at the end of which the visitors were given another kickable shot at goal, from which 3 points were collected. The whistle then blew at 15 – 13. The second half started with Heath again taking play to Pontefract and applying all the pressure, until relieving penalties came along. The homeside duly picked up one of their own though the points went begging as the shot drifted wide. That said, Heath kept matters moving forward, with runs from Eddie Blackmore and with good possession coming from Alistair Gordon in the line. Pontefract then took play to Heath, through several passages, finally coming to a halt when Fermoyle and Royston put in last-ditch tackles. The visitors then stuck to their task and remained attacking in the homeside’s half for a good period until this concerted pressure finally told and Dean broke through the stretched defence to score under the posts. He converted this himself, to move the score on to 22 – 13 after 22 minutes Heath rallied, but Pontefract were again let off the hook with a relieving penalty. A kickable penalty then followed, but Dean missed this time. Unfortunately, Heath’s Merrick had picked up a shoulder injury in the exchanges and left the field. Ollie Wilby entered the fray and Blackmore moved out to centre, from the backrow. Scrappy play then saw the game started to drift towards a Pontefract victory. Their left wing adding the final touch with an unconverted try, out wide. 13 – 27. Thereafter, penalties were awarded both ways and the whistle was promptly blow after Heath’s final throw of the dice came to nothing. This was a well-fought battle on Heath’s part, with the Yorkshire 1 Champions being thoroughly tested by a resilient and confident home side. This bodes well for next season.