A famous away victory.

Heath 2nd xv made the short journey down the M62 to take on Cleckheaton 2nd xv in a league fixture on the home clubs’ main pitch on a sunny, dry afternoon. Heath made a good, confident start with second row, Emlyn JAMES, taking the difficult kick off. The ball was recycled and after a couple of probing kicks, Heath were awarded a penalty when Martin WHITE, playing once again in the unaccustomed position of open side wing forward, was first to the breakdown but was prevented from playing the ball. Both teams were intent on running the ball at every opportunity making for an entertaining contest but handling errors by the home backs relieved the pressure on Heath. After 17 minutes, a quick tap penalty was taken by scrum half, Richard COLE from inside his own half and the ball was kicked deep into the home ‘22’. An excellent chase by centre Luke CLOGHER and right winger, Josh LISTER forced turnover ball within 5 metres of the home line. The forwards had a couple of drives to the line but the Cleckheaton defence remained solid. The ball was then passed out to the backs but it went to ground where it was picked up by the home number 5 who made good ground before offloading to the supporting full back. He then passed inside to the wing forward who sprinted between the posts. The try was converted. 0 – 7. This was a blow to the Heath lads who were looking at going 7 – 0 up themselves. They then put themselves under further immediate pressure when the kick off failed to reach the 10 metre line. Cleckheaton were penalised for ‘feeding’ at the resulting scrum and, once again, Richard COLE took a quick tap and made ground before passing outside to Martin WHITE who then passed it back inside. Richard COLE made further ground before passing to wing forward, Brook WARD, who ran in for a very well – taken try converted by full back, Edward CARTWRIGHT. 7 – 7 after 19 minutes. After 24 minutes, Heath were dealt a blow when centre and captain, Martin SHAW had to leave the field with a leg injury. Outside half, Andy WHITE, moved to centre; Edward CARTWRIGHT moved to outside half; left winger Colin HEWISON went to full back with replacement, Martyn BARNES going onto the left wing. This was made worse on resumption from the resulting line out in the Heath ‘22’ when the Cleckheaton number 8 ran through a couple of missed tackles before the ball was passed out to the right winger, ex Heath player, Daz TERRY, who scored an unconverted try in the corner. 7 – 12 after 25 minutes. After 32 minutes, Cleckheaton extended their lead when they were awarded a penalty 5 metres from the Heath line. They took a quick tap and scored 10 metres in from touch. The conversion was missed. 7 – 17. Martyn BARNES chased the resulting kick off and secured possession. Heath then got into the Cleckheaton ‘22’ but they lost their own line out and the Cleckheaton outside half ran the ball back to halfway before being tackled. There then followed an excellent passage of play from Heath. A scrum between the Heath ‘22’ and 10 metre line was taken against the head and good interpassing between Richard COLE and the 3 back row players including number 8, John LOCK, returning to the club after a few years break, followed. The ball was quickly transferred along the back line where Josh LISTER went on a weaving run before being unfairly tackled some 15 metres from the try line. A decision was made to kick for touch for a lineout, a part of the game where Heath had been struggling to secure good possession. The line out was lost and the ball cleared. Half time 7 – 17. Heath were still well and truly involved in the game and had the players to turnover the lead. However, their chances were not helped after 44 minutes when Cleckheaton took a scrum against the head near to the Heath line. The number 8 passed the ball out and a try was scored by Daz TERRY near the posts. The try was converted. 7 – 24. Heath now had to dig deep and ensure that they got the next score on the board. After 52 minutes they did just that. Richard COLE took a quick tap penalty from just outside the Heath ‘22’. He passed to Edward CARTWRIGHT who then ran 70 metres leaving defenders in his wake to score a superb individual try which he converted himself. 14 – 24 and Heath were back in the game. Heath continued to press and almost scored a further try in the corner when Edward CARTWRIGHT put in an excellent deep kick which was fly-hacked on by Colin HEWISON who was then involved in a footrace with the young replacement right winger. It looked as if Colin was going to collect and score the try but was prevented from doing so when the winger punched the ball dead. A 5 metre attacking scrum was the decision given and a penalty was awarded to Heath under the posts for offside. Edward CARTWRIGHT kicked the penalty. 17 – 24 after 56 minutes. A long kick downfield resulted in a Heath 22 metre drop out. Emlyn JAMES took a quick kick to himself in an attempt to catch the Cleckheaton boys off their guard. He passed the ball out to prop Rick CARTER who had Martyn BARNES outside in space. However, the ball was knocked on. From the scrum, the ball was run along the line and Cleckheaton scored an unconverted try in the corner. 17 – 29 after 62 minutes. After 63 minutes, hooker, Roger HAMMOND had to leave the field with a calf injury. He was replaced by Alf BAXTER who played at wing forward; Rick CARTER went to hooker: Emlyn JAMES went to prop and Brook WARD went into the second row. From a scrum near halfway, the Cleckheaton number 8 set off on a strong run but Colin HEWISON came up with an excellent, try-saving big ‘hit’ which forced the number 8 to lose possession. After 67 minutes, Richard COLE quickly took a penalty and passed to Emlyn JAMES. The momentum was continued with the ball being passed between the forwards. John LOCK made good yardage towards the Cleckheaton line and Andy WHITE did good work to secure possession from the resulting ruck. The ball was then passed along the Heath back line at speed where it came to Rick CARTER who immediately transferred the ball to left winger, Josh LISTER. He still had work to do but he shimmied inside one attempted tackle before using his strength to force his way over in the corner. An excellent conversion from Edward CARTWRIGHT followed. 24 – 29 and all to play for. After 72 minutes Heath came close to scoring a further try. The ball was kicked to the halfway line from the Heath ‘22’ and Josh LISTER then managed to fly-hack the ball on a couple of occasions to the home ‘22’. In his attempt to pick up the ball at speed, he unluckily knocked the ball forwards. After 76 minutes, Heath did manage to score and take the lead. From a scrum on the home 10 metre line, Edward CARTWRIGHT dummied a couple of passes before making a break to the home ‘22’ where he made a perfect pass back inside to the supporting Luke CLOGHER who dived over the try line between the posts. Edward successfully converted. 31 – 29. Heath kept their composure in the dying minutes of the game and defended well under pressure before referee, Damian O’HEHIR blew the final whistle. Final score : Cleckheaton 29 v 31 Heath. This was an excellent team display from each and every one of the 17 Heath players. They showed tremendous spirit and never say die attitude throughout. The boys have started the season with 2 excellent wins scoring 78 points in the process. They are playing entertaining, expansive rugby and are reaping the rewards. Man of the match awards go to scrum half, Richard COLE who provided an excellent link between forwards and backs and whose quick-thinking and distribution laid the foundations for the win; and Martin WHITE who had an excellent in the back row. He tackled well; carried the ball well and made a general nuisance of himself throughout to the opposition.