A good game and another good win.

Heath 2nd xv entertained Barnsley in a friendly fixture on a fine, wind-free afternoon with a very similar starting line-up to the team that had beaten Leos the previous week. The home side started poorly with missed tackles putting them under pressure from the off and Barnsley opened the scoring after 4 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for offside some 22 metres out and the outside half made no mistake with the resulting kick. 0-3. The restart went straight into touch and put Barnsley on the front foot once again with a scrum on halfway. Heath then woke up and started to get back into the game. After 11 minutes, full back, Edward CARTWRIGHT pulled a penalty attempt to the left of the posts but play remained in the Barnsley half and Heath were awarded a penalty for offside on the 10 metre line which was kicked into the corner by outside half, Tom COLLINGE, for an attacking 5 metre line out. The line out was won but after a couple of forward drives, it was knocked forward. However, at the scrum, the Heath pack pushed the Barnsley pack back with the scrum half only able to ground the ball over the line for an attacking 5 metre scrum. The ball was won and number 8, Neil SMURTHWAITE, showed good control at the back of the scrum as the Heath ‘8’ pushed the Barnsley pack over the line and he scored a try to the side of the posts. Edward CARTWRIGHT converted. 7-3 after 12 minutes. Barnsley were awarded a couple of kickable penalties in quick succession but the outside half missed both reasonably straightforward attempts at goal. This was a let off for Heath. An excellent long kick downfield from Tom COLLINGE was well chased by right winger, ‘Bluey’ LISTER and the Barnsley full back was forced to commit a transgression, allowing the ball to be kicked into touch by Tom COLLINGE. The lineout was working well with both Ryan BROOK and Richard DANCE invariably winning clean ball on the home throw. The ball was taken and driven forwards and an attacking 5 metre scrum followed. Barnsley dug in and the attacking opportunity came to nought. After 26 minutes, Heath increased their lead. Tom COLLINGE tried a little grubber kick in the Barnsley ‘22’. A fortuitous rebound enabled Tom to regather the ball and pass to centre, Martin SHAW, who was tackled 5 metres short of the line. He passed it inside and scrum half, Gary PIGEON, picked the ball up well from the ground to score a try next to the posts. Edward CARTWRIGHT converted. 14-3. After 32 minutes, lineout ball was won in the Heath half and the forwards drove the ball some 10-15 metres before releasing the backs. Martin SHAW ran an excellent line and ghosted past several defenders before entering the Barnsley ‘22’. He looked a certain scorer but a superb tackle from the Barnsley full back forced him to lose the ball and the opportunity had gone. After 37 minutes, Barnsley were given an opportunity to reduce the deficit with a kick in front of the posts but the outside half inexplicably missed. The half time whistle followed shortly afterwards. 14-3. The Barnsley outside half left the field at half time and, with no replacement, they started the second half with 14 men. Heath made the perfect start to the second half. From the kick off, Barnsley kicked downfield. The ball was taken by Neil SMURTHWAITE and he passed inside to Edward CARTWRIGHT who put in a tremendous kick to within 10 metres of the Barnsley line. The resulting line out was spoilt by Heath and Barnsley remained on the back foot, Heath won the next scrum and the ball was passed down the line. A penalty was awarded and after a quick tap from Gary PIGEON, the ball was quickly recycled and prop, Oliver COOK, picked it up at the base of the ruck and drove over for a try converted by Edward CARTWRIGHT. 21-3. Centre Martin SHAW had to leave the field with a leg injury. He was replaced by Riz MUGHAL with winger, Tobias HINCHCLIFFE initially moving to centre. He soon moved to full back with Tom COLLINGE going to centre and Edward CARTWRIGHT going to outside half. This should have laid the platform for a very convincing victory for Heath. They were further assisted with the sin-binning of the Barnsley prop for not releasing in the tackle and Barnsley were down to 13 men. However, the Heath team then went to sleep for 15 minutes. Barnsley scored a couple of converted tries and after 58 minutes, it was all to play for at 21-17. Shortly afterwards, Heath were reduced to 14 players when centre Andy WHITE was shown the yellow card for holding-on in the tackle and things were starting to look ominous. Richard DANCE moved to centre to cover for this loss. Heath then upped their game and started to play once more. Neil SMURTHWAITE received the ball in his own half and put in an excellent kick deep into the Barnsley ‘22’. Heath kept Barnsley under the cosh and were rewarded when scrum half, Gary PIGEON, went blind and he fed full back, Tobias HINCHCLIFFE, who forced his way over in the corner. The conversion hit the post. 26-17. Andy WHITE returned from his 10 minutes enforced rest and, shortly afterwards, Heath increased their lead when Edward CARTWRIGHT received the ball some 40 metres from the Barnsley line and kicked a superb drop goal straight between the posts. 29-17. Barnsley came back onto the offensive but they were met with an excellent Heath defence and it was Heath who had the last word. Edward CARTWRIGHT received the ball just inside the Barnsley half and jinked inside his opposite number before sprinting to the line for an excellent try which he converted himself. The referee then blew for ‘no side’. Final score 36-17. Apart from the 15 minute spell in the second half when the Heath lads just did not play at all, this was another excellent performance from a team who are growing in confidence as the season progresses. Man of the match awards go to colt Edward CARTWRIGHT who had an outstanding game at both full back and outside half and who is looking very comfortable indeed at senior level and Richard DANCE, who performed well in the line out and turned over ball well in the loose, putting in some excellent ‘hits’ also.