Despite the loss a fine game and a gutsy performance.

Heath 2nd xv travelled to Wheatley Hills to take on their counterparts in a league game. An already difficult fixture was made even harder when a car containing 3 players got lost on route and Heath had to start the game with 13 players only. They played with 7 in the pack and the leftwinger missing. Heath started the game brightly and got into the opposition faces from the word go. They were rewarded for their efforts in the 7th minute after a penalty, awarded for a late tackle on outside half, Eddie CARTWRIGHT, was converted by the same player. 3-0. After 12 minutes, the home side got on the scoresheet when they moved the ball out wide and the left-winger scored in the corner. The conversion was missed. 3-5. Heath continued to defend well and made life hard for their opponents. After 26 minutes, Heath had a scrum in their own ‘22’. This was wheeled and the ball lost but wing forward, David PIDGEON, typified the performance of the Heath lads by stealing the ball at the back of the ‘Hills’ scrum and presenting it for his fellow forwards to secure. Eddie CARTWRIGHT then made a break down the blind side and, unfortunately, the ball was lost and the ‘Hills’ strong-running right winger scored a try in the corner after a desperate attempt at a cover tackle by second row, Ryan HUNTER, just failed. The conversion was missed. 3-10. Pressure began to build on the Heath lads, which was only to be expected due to the numerical advantage. However, they continued to defend with determination but the line was breached shortly before half time when the ball was spun out giving a 2 man overlap on the left. The young prop sold a dummy and scored a try some 15 metres in from touch. The try was converted. 3-17. During the build up to the try, centre, Travis DENWOOD received an injury to his right shoulder but he demonstrated the excellent spirit of the team when he decided to continue. The half time whistle went shortly afterwards. 3-17 Wheatley Hills then offered one of their replacements to play for Heath, that was gratefully accepted. The young lad slotted straight into the back row. Number 8, Chris MERRICK, then moved into the centre with Travis DENWOOD moving onto the wing. After 43 minutes, the home side increased their lead when, from a scrum on the Heath ‘22’, the ball was passed out to the outside centre who ran a good line to score an unconverted try. 3-22. A big effort was going to be required from the Heath lads now as the home sides’ confidence visibly grew. The boys were up to the task and continued to tackle with gusto. After 53 minutes, the home side made a break down their left and the winger looked an almost-certain scorer before full back, Matthew COOK, covered across and tackled him into touch with a well-timed and executed tackle. However, the respite was short-lived when, from a scrum in the Heath ‘22’, the ball was passed out to the inside centre who scored next to the posts. The try was converted. 3-29 after 55 minutes. At this point, the missing players arrived pitch side. Josh LISTER went onto the wing with Travis DENWOOD moving to centre allowing Chris MERRICK to move back into the pack at number 8. Right-winger Martyn BARNES then left the field to be replaced by Stuart NELSON. After 62 minutes, second row Ryan HUNTER was replaced by the last of the 3 late arrivals, Steve RICHARDSON. After 68 minutes, the home side further increased their lead with a try from the outside half, which was duly converted. 3-36. However, with a full compliment of players, Heath were now making more headway against their opponents with number 8, Chris MERRICK constantly getting the away side moving forwards. No further points followed and the full time whistle sounded. Final score 3-36. This was an excellent, gutsy performance by the Heath side who were on a hiding to nothing when they took to the pitch with 13 men in the knowledge that their team mates were not due to arrive for some time yet. Heads never dropped and the spirit shown by all players was outstanding. Man of the match awards go to scrum half, Tom COLLINGE, who was under pressure at the scrum throughout but he provided a good link with outside half, Eddie CARTWRIGHT and also constantly pressurise his opposite number at the set piece. In the forwards, wing forward, David PIDGEON had an outstanding game putting in some excellent tackles and doing a lot of dirty work on the ground. There was some further good news during the evening when Alf BAXTER, who used to be involved with the 2nd xv on a regular basis in the past, announced that he would be able to assist with the running of the 2nd xv once more. Alf has taken coaching courses and assisted in the coaching of the Heath Colts in the recent past. He will be attending at training each Thursday evening from now on with a view to providing coaching sessions for, predominantly, players not involved in the 1st xv squad. Please give him your full support.