Excellent win at Selby keeps the points coming.

After a break of three weeks since their last game, Heath and their loyal band of supporters, travelled to third in the league, Selby, hoping to put in a creditable performance. In the early exchanges it was the West Vale men who got the better of their opponents, despite playing into a strong wind, looking sharp in the backs and determined in the forwards. That said, it was the home side that picked up the first points of the day, from a penalty following Heath handling in a ruck. Selby 3 – 0 up after 10 minutes. Undeterred, Heath stormed back and when number 8 Downsborough released flanker Eddie Blackmore on a charging run, they nearly saw him go over for a try. But he was held up short and Selby cleared their line. Heath continued to win great turnover ball from the Selby juggernaught of a pack as they came head to head with the homeside and stormed forward looking for points. These came after 20 minutes when superb work from scrumhalf Cole saw Downsborough in support and he went over for a try, converted by standoff Piper. The West Vale meant went 7 – 3 up. This score seemed to spur Selby into greater effort and Heath were then put under pressure as the homeside fought back, but good tackling from hooker Wilby, the hard working Joe Shipman plus Eddie Blackmore kept the homeside at bay. This fine defensive effort by the Heath pack held for sometime but Selby finally got their reward, when Heath gave away a penalty and, from a difficult angle, standoff Porter slotted the ball over and put the home side back in the game at 6 – 7, after 38 minutes. Selby again lifted their game and Heath didn't immediately come to terms with the strong running of the Selby props, so it came as no surprise when Adamson went over in the corner for the homeside to take the lead 11 – 7 as the referee blew for halftime. Selby began the second half as they'd ended the first – on the attack and nearly scoring after only a couple of minutes play – when winger Adamson kicked through. Happily, fullback Luke Clogher won the footrace to the ball and touched down. From the drop out, quick-thinking Hetherington used the wind and kicked into the Selby half and gave chase. The home defenders panicked and gave away a penalty, which Piper popped over to put Heath back in the game at 11 – 10. Play then stepped up another gear all-round, becoming even more fast and furious, with Gordon, Shipman and Richardson putting in excellent tackling stints and with centres White and Brown finding gaps. On 55 minutes Selby were penalised, but this time Piper's shot at the posts went adrift in the strong wind. Selby then stormed back looking for a score of their own but as the game ebbed and flowed it was Heath who scored, following superb work by Downsborough. He peeled off a scrum to make a 40 yard storming run and then linked up with winger Giles Hetherington, who was playing his first game since extensive knee surgery, but was looking as sharp as ever, and following some slick passing, Shipman went over for a thoroughly well-deserved try. Converted in difficult conditions by Piper, Heath went 17 – 11 up, with 20 minutes of play left. Again Selby stormed back via their strong pack but the Heath defence stood firm, this time with winger Matt Baxendale putting in some fine tackles. On 70 minutes hooker Wilby was penalised for coming over in the ruck and was sidelined for 10 minutes. Selby's Porter picked up the 3 points from the resulting kick. 14 – 17, still to Heath. With young Wilby off the field of play, Heath were up against it and despite some excellent tackles an overlap saw the Selby winger Grundy go over in the corner. The conversion was missed but the Home side were now 19 – 17 infront, one man up and only 8 minutes or so of play left. An injury to Shipman saw James Blackmore enter the fray for Heath and when Wilby was eventually allowed back on, Daniel Ramsden came on to the park in his stead. Heath now worked harder than ever for that final score to put them back in the lead, but an opportunistic drop from Piper was charged down. Still, Heath put more and more pressure on their now wilting opponents and in the end were awarded a penalty out to the right of the posts. Not an easy shot in the blustery conditions - made more pressured with the game resting on the outcome. Piper's nerve held and he slotted the ball over, neatly between the posts. The referee blew for time and Heath ran out 20- 19 winners in what was a superb end-to-end game of rugby from two very competitive sides and with probably Heath's best performance of the season. They can safely say they have arrived in Yorkshire 1!