West Leeds keener to win.

It was always going to be hard motivating the senior team in this encounter, following their competitive, successful season in the league, together with the previous week’s excellent performance against Bradford Salem in the final match of the 2008/09 campaign. On the day, this proved to be the case and, despite a couple of flashes of their normal ability, Heath failed to set the standard needed to come away with a win. So it was the keener of the two sides that came out on top – West Leeds being 29 – 14 victors at the final whistle. From the off, the enthusiastic Leeds outfit camped in the visitor’s half but a sniping run from Giles Hetherington, followed by a break out from Morris, released no. 8 Ian Downsborough for a thirty metre dash to the hosts line and a well worked, if opportunistic, try. The extras were added by Matt Hallett for Heath to go 7 – 0 up after ten minutes. The ease of this score possibly reinforced a little complacency in the Heath numbers. But a lack of quality ball, from poor accuracy in the lines and severe pressure in the scrums, saw them struggle to create any more in roads into the Leeds 22 and it was the hosts who next scored, with a try under the posts by secondrow Taylor. Standoff Monk converted for a score of 7 a piece. It was also the Leeds outfit that had the next chance of points, but a forward pass prevented them adding to their tally. Next, an injury to the influential Downsborough saw backrower Martin Parker enter the fray, accompanied by a shuffle upfront with Olly Cook moving to the secondrow and Grant Turton coming in to prop. This was quickly followed by Heath dropping to 14 men, when centre Morris was sinbinned for ten minutes. West Leeds sought to exploit numbers advantage, but lost the ball in one of their attacks. Centre Martin White made a great pickup and laid off to Hetherington, who sprinted fifty metres for another well taken try which Hallett converted for a 14 – 7 lead at halftime. The second half started with Jimmy Blackmore replacing the injured Cook and another shuffle in the scrum to accommodate this. West Leeds were off the blocks quicker and picked up an unconverted try after only five more minutes of play. Another score followed, despite doubts over the final pass, and the hosts were now 17 – 14 infront, with Heath needing to inject some consistency into their game, if the situation was to be reversed. Despite a couple of good runs in the closing stages of the encounter and fresh legs as Coach Kevin Plant gave everyone a “run-out”, Heath never looked to take the initiative or gain the upper hand. West Leeds accordingly capitalised and their endeavours saw 12 more points come their way, for them to run out 29 – 14 infront and deserved winners on the day.