HEATH ROUND OFF LEAGUE SEASON WITH MAXIMUM POINTS AGAINST A GRITTY ILKLEY SIDE

Selection
15 Jack Bruce 14 Sam Fletcher 13 Callum Harriott-Brown 12 Ezra Hinchliffe 11 Jake Haynes 10 Chris Johnson 9 Max Rowntree 1 Olly Cook 2 Alex McFadden 3 Chris Moore 4 Seif Boussaada 5 Pete Hampshire 6 Ben Stringer 7 Johnny Cole 8 Tom Clough 16 Jonny Garrity 17 Harvey Keighley-Payne 18 Josh Crickmay

Scorers
Jake Haynes 1 try  Sam Fletcher 1 try  Max Rowntree 1 try  Chris Moore 1 try  Harvey Keighley-Payne 1 try  
Chris Johnson 3 pens 4 cons

Report

Heath entertained Ilkley in their final league game of the season, looking to sign off with a win to secure third place. Conditions were ideal with bright sunshine and a rock hard surface, much different to last time they met at Heath, back in 2023, when supporters cleared the pitch of snow to ensure the game went ahead! Dir' Rugby Harry made a couple of changes with starting berths for Max Rowntree, Olly Cook and Johnny Cole with the bench made up of Harvey Keighley-Payne, Jonny Garrity and Josh Crickmay.

There was yet another healthy crowd to greet the players hopeful of seeing an exciting game and they were not to be disappointed. Heath kicked off playing towards the river end but it was the visitors who took control from the off, as Heath looked out of sorts - losing the first three scrums and gifting the ball with dropped passes, so it came as no surprise to see Ilkley take advantage with a penalty conversion to lead 3-0 after six minutes with a second attempt, on ten minutes, going just wide.

This seemed to shock Heath into action and, when Tom Clough stole the ball, he released the supporting Callum Harriott-Brown who broke clear before releasing Jake Haynes, though the wingman was stopped illegally as the visitors struggled. Heath continued to string passes together and Haynes went close again, chasing down a huge kick from Chris Johnson.  With the visitors struggling to contain the onslaught it came as no surprise to see Jake Haynes finish off a flowing move with an unconverted try in the corner, 5-3 with twenty minutes played.

Heath were now playing with confidence and a clever pass to Sam Fletcher saw the winger set off on a mazy run to crash over for a try, converted by Johnson, 12-3, with twenty-two minutes played.

The visitors responded immediately with an attack and some inept tackling from the home defence saw Ilkley score a try under the posts, 12-10.

On the half hour mark an injury to Sam Fletcher saw Jonny Garrity enter the field as Heath went in search of adding to their tally and when Tom Clough won line-out ball an outrageous dummy pass from Chris Johnson saw Max Rowntree cross the whitewash for a converted try and a score of 19-10 with five minutes to half time.

Josh Crickmay and Harvey Keighley-Payne replaced Olly Cook and Ben Stringer as Ilkley once again went back on the attack and were rewarded with a penalty, 19-13 as the half time whistle sounded.

The start of the second half saw an early card for Max Rowntree and Ilkley took advantage scoring a converted try under the posts to lead 20-19 with forty-five minutes played.

The game ebbed and flowed as both teams looked for a score and it was Heath who re-took the lead with a penalty 22-20 but when Callum Harriott-Brown was penalised for a high tackle, Ilkley kicked and then led 23-22.

Rowntree returned to the field, along with Ben Stringer replacing Seif Boussaada, as the game became quite tense and when Ilkley had a player carded Heath took the opportunity to respond. A clever penalty kick from Chris Johnson found touch in the corner and a catch and drive saw Chris Moore emerge with the ball for a try converted by Johnson and Heath took the lead again 29-23 with twenty minutes left to play. This seemed to inspire Heath and with Ezra Hinchliffe prominent it came as no surprise to see Ilkley give away yet another penalty for Johnson to increase the lead 32-23.

The visitors responded with a penalty conversion, 32-26, with ten  minutes left to play and it was still anyone's game but, once again, a training ground move saw Ben Stringer soar high to collect the ball as Alex McFadden peeled off to release Harvey Keighley-Payne who crashed over for a converted try 39-26.

Credit to Ilkley as they continued to look for a score and playing injury time they were rewarded with a converted try, 39-33. The visitors continued to stretch the home defence going in search of snatching the win but, when Heath were awarded a penalty, the reliable boot of Chris Johnson saw the ball sail between the posts for Heath to clinch the win 42-33 to round of the league season with maximum points as the final whistle sounded. 

It has been a superb season for the Club with a deserved third place finish. There have been many memorable games and credit must go to the coaching staff and players who have put in so much effort. Attention now turns to the Cup competition, starting with a visit to Stockport next week. Lucky socks are in the wash ready for the game and hopefully we can make progress.

See you there!!!!!!!!! 

All photos are Bev Clough's, unless stated otherwise.

League Results, HERE.

Final League Table, HERE.

Bev Clough Photography.  A lot more photos, HERE.

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