2nds hold on for a good win.

Heath 2nd xv entertained Bradford Salem 2nd xv in a friendly fixture, hoping to avenge the narrow defeat they suffered at the opponents hands back in December. The game was played in cold, blustery conditions with the odd snow shower occurring during the match. The first few minutes saw Salem in control of both possession and territory but the Heath tackling was up to the test. From a dangerous kick through, full back, Paddy KERR, was able to step inside his would-be tackler and make a good, safe touch-finding kick to relieve the pressure. After 8 minutes, Heath carried out their first real foray in the opposition half. The ball was won by the forwards and was then spun out to the backs where centre, Jarrod MORRIS, made a clean break and was a certain scorer. However, he pulled up sharp with an obvious injury. Even so, he still managed to hobble his way over the line to open the scoring. Scrum half, Matthew HALLETT, kicked the conversion. 7-0. Jarrod then left the field to be replaced by Giles HETHERINGTON, who had been playing with the 3rd xv on the adjacent pitch. After 14 minutes, Heath were awarded a penalty for offside, some 25 metres out directly in front of the posts. Matthew HALLETT made no mistake. 10-0. The game then went through a bit of a stalemate period where neither side looked like breaching the opposition defence. However, after 28 minutes, the game came to life when Giles HETHERINGTON made two good breaks leading to, first, right wing, Martyn BARNES being given the opportunity to stretch his legs on a 20 metre run before being tackled into touch and, secondly, when, almost immediately, Giles did the same to allow left winger, Rob OWEN, to make a good run down the touchline before the ball was cleared to touch. From the resulting line out, the ball was won and the forwards drove the ball forward and when it was released to the backs, outside half, Andy WHITE, threw out a perfectly weighted pass allowing Giles HETHERINGTON to beat his man on the outside to score a try near the corner flag. The conversion from young HALLETT was perfect. 17-0. There was no further score before the half time whistle was blown, by referee, Rodney LOWE. Although the lead appeared to be comfortable, Heath certainly took their foot off the gas after their second try and needed to lift their game again after the break. Early in the second half, Heath took a foothold in their opponents '22' but were unable to increase their lead. First, they had forced a defending 5 metre scrum but indiscipline gave Salem the chance to clear their lines from the resulting penalty. Shortly afterwards, the Heath pack had driven the ball through a number of phases before the ball was passed left, where an overlap was present. Unfortunately, the pass from second row, Michael STEAD, to left wing Rob OWEN was adjudged forward just as Rob put the ball over the whitewash. After 56 minutes, the ball was kicked through by Heath, in midfield. Matthew HALLETT then caught his opposite number in possession and wrapped him up. The opposition scrum half was not impressed at being held and decided to jump upwards and forwards and headbutt young HALLETT in the face. This then led to some fisticuffs between some of the forwards. The result was a sending off for the Salem scrum half. Caught in the fall-out were second row, Craig AMBLER, and one of the Salem pack, both being given a 10 minutes cooling off period in the ' bin'. After 60 minutes, Heath increased their lead when they were awarded a 5 metre attacking scrum. The ball was picked up and driven-in by number 8, Dean COTTON. Although stopped just short of the line, the ball was then passed down the blindside by Matthew HALLETT to right wing, Martyn BARNES, who was able to score an unconverted try in the corner. 22-0. After 67 minutes, Salem made a change at outside half with their regular 1st xv stand off coming off the bench. He made a huge difference to the game as he then started to get his backline moving. After 70 minutes, Salem opened their account when , after quite a bit of pressure, the ball was passed to the centre in space some 10 metres out and he scored under the posts. The conversion was successful. 22-7. Rick PAINTER was then replaced by Alfie BAXTER in the front row. After 76 minutes, Salem, orchestrated by the outside half, scored a try in the corner after a period of concerted pressure on the home line. Again, the try was excellently converted. 22-14 and Heath now had to dig deep. Again, Salem came back at Heath but the defence held out and the final whistle sounded to signal a Heath victory by 22-14. Once Heath had opened the scoring, there appeared to be only one result on the cards. However, the introduction of the replacement outside half got the Salem backs moving and momentum certainly shifted towards them. But, overall, this was a deserved victory for the Heath boys. Man of the Match awards went to Michael STEAD who played his part in the line out and also in the loose where his aggressive running got Heath on the front foot on a number of occasions and Giles HETHERINGTON who ran the show in the Heath backs after coming on as an early replacement-----Giles, I will forgive you for that feeble attempt at a drop goal late on!!!!!