Great win in Derby Game.

Selection:

Haigh, Hirst, Cook, Marsden, K-Payne, Sharp, Ward, Clough.

Grainger, Hall, Cadogan, Thornton, Knight, West, Bruce.

Burbidge, Ring, Dance.

Scorers:

Tries 8: Clough 3, Cadogan 2, Ring, Thornton and Knight

1 pen: Ben Hall.  2 conversions:  Cook 1, Hall 1

Report

Heath warmed up next to their 1st team counterparts with a steely focus and will to win.

Huddersfield came to town confident of taking the win and cementing their place at the top of the league. Not today Wolfpack.

The scoreline didn’t really acknowledge both a lot of Huddersfield endeavour and some real adversity suffered by Heath.

Heath did start well, which ultimately allowed them to kick on later in the game. The superb front row of Haigh, Cook and impressively returning Henry Hirst built a platform in the set piece. Ferg' and Carrick Keighley-Payne marshalled the lineout and were instrumental around the back, ably supported by skipper Ward and Sam Sharp, who despite carrying knocks and being under the weather, as always gave his all. The cherry on this forwards' cake was having Tom Clough at 8, there’s more than a few first teams in far loftier positions that would welcome this Ferrari of number 8s, today it was to Heath’s benefit and Huddersfield’s dismay. The numerous breaks, the 3 tries and big hits showed why he is normally strutting his stuff next door, however, the experience, confidence and words he brought were a real game changer.

Scores came regularly in the first quarter, management’s man of the match Elliot Knight crashing over, Cooky failing with the conversion. Tom Clough was next as he got his first, a clattering tackle by West (who had to the leave the field with a badly looking shoulder injury) created a 5m scrum which Clough controlled to go over, Cooky converting this one. 

After lauding Tom Clough he was responsible for the sole Huddersfield try, an attempted interception on the home line knocked down, earning a yellow card and a penalty try.

Not to be put off, Heath played possibly their best rugby, Granger against his former club and in the unfamiliar scrum half position worked tirelessly to provide Ben Hall the ammunition to feed the back line - Matty Thornton pushing Elliott Knight in carries and tackle count. Jack Bruce made some great insertions and wingers Ring (replacing West) and Phil Cadogan looked dangerous. Indeed Cadogan got his first of a double following exemplary team play diving over in the left corner, the conversion agonisingly drifting wide from Cook. Heath lost both Haigh and Sharp (both elbow injuries) before half time but not before Cadogan had battled his way over for his second try, no conversion.

Half time 24-7 but Heath had used all their subs, the barnstorming Richard Dance looked like he hadn’t been away and Oli Birbidge seamlessly switched in.

The second half commenced and it became scrappy, Heath now were struggling with personnel; Hirst left the field with an eye injury and Marsden a bicep issue. Sharp returned manfully to the field almost with one arm but still in better nick than the other replacement, coach Nick OC, rushing to the changing rooms for boots to ensure the lads were not down to 14. Staying at 15 didn’t last long, Oli Birbidge seeing to that with a yellow for the first penalised high tackle of the game! 

Heath battled manfully as the game went back and forth, defending manfully as Huddersfield got on top with a multitude of forward carries. Heath were restored to 15 but then lost Cook to a knee injury, a swift look up and down the sideline led to team manager for the day, Joe Shipman, pinching some shorts - lads back up to 15, Shippers rolling back the years.

With Hall now pulling the strings, he popped over a Heath penalty to take the score to 28-7. The game then opened up with Heath possession, Bruce eating up yards at the back, Clough a real thorn in the Wolfpack’s side. Ring drove and spun to finish his try well, Clough picked up 2 more and with a final flourish Thornton crashed over under the sticks.

So a final one sided score it was, 47-7 but again credit to Hudds who felt they will be better placed come the end of season return.

For now, Heath return to the top of the table with another 5 points, a welcome week off given the injury toll before they roll into December hoping to keep momentum going into the Xmas break.  

Photography:

We had three good photographers with Heath, today.  Bev Clough, Andy Keighley & Andy Groves.  Bev and Andy K concentrated on the Firsts.  Andy G stayed with the Hawks, throughout.  Thanks go to all three for some fine shots.

Lots more photos: 

Andy Groves, here.

Bev Clough, here.

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