Snatched in last minute.

Heath 2nd xv restarted their weather-interrupted season with a home game against their Wheatley Hills counterparts in a league game. Heath were playing against the strong wind in the first half on a heavy pitch with rain falling persistently. Prop Oliver COOK got the home side going with an excellent one on one grapple with the young, strong number 5 who had created havoc in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. He stopped him in his tracks and stripped him of the ball. Most of the play was taking place around the halfway line with neither team able to take control of the game in conditions that were causing a number of unforced errors. Cookie took on the number 5 once more in open play and on this occasion he tackled him to the ground and the Wheatley Hills player was penalised for ‘holding on’ in the tackle. Just after halfway through the half, Heath then took a foothold in the Wheatley Hills half. After 22 minutes, they were awarded a penalty some 15 metres out and wing forward, Gary PIDGEON, took a quick tap but he was held just short of the line and an attacking 5 metre scrum followed. However, the danger was cleared. After 28 minutes, the first opportunity to put a score on the board fell to the home side when stand off, Eddie CARTWRIGHT, missed a penalty kick from a good 40 metres. Heath continued to remain camped in the Wheatley Hills half but were unable to pressurise the ‘ Hills try line. After 38 minutes, Heath had a further chance to open the scoring with another penalty kick from 40 metres on the other side of the pitch but Eddie just missed to the left of the posts. The half time whistle blew shortly afterwards. 0 – 0. No changes were made at halftime. The away side started the second half very brightly and put the home line under pressure on a couple of occasions. On one of these occasions, the fiery outside centre for Wheatley Hills made a good break but was met full-on by young Cookie at full back. Although he did not put him to ground, he showed good strength in stopping him in his tracks allowing retiring teammates to complete the job. Unfortunately, as a result, young Cookie had to leave the field with an injury along with flanker, Martin WHITE who had a leg injury. Mark GARSIDE came off the bench and went to centre with Andy WHITE moving to full back. Steve RICHARDSON replaced Martin WHITE in the back row. After 50 minutes, Dan INGHAM replaced Rick CARTER at prop and shortly afterwards, Heath were further disrupted when Steve RICHARDSON had to leave the file with a nasty gash to his chin. He was replaced by Dean PORTER. Wheatley Hills were controlling the game now and they received their reward when, from an attacking 5 metres line out, they caught the ball and drove over the line for a try near the corner that was unconverted. 0 – 5 after 57 minutes. Heath continued to struggle to get out of their own half. That said, their defence was generally good. However, they ran the ball from their own ‘22’ and Eddie CARTWRIGHT made a good run down the touchline before kicking downfield. He was taken late by the ‘ Hills outside centre and from the subsequent penalty, the ball was kicked to touch but this came to nought. After 68 minutes, Wheatley Hills increased their lead when the ball was passed down the backline and the inside centre scored a simple try near the corner. This was very well converted to give ‘ Hills a lead of 0 – 12. Heath then took the opportunity to replace second row, Emlyn JAMES and full back, Andy WHITE with Paddy KERR and Tom COLLINGE respectively. From the kick off, Heath were able to regain possession and right winger, Colin HEWISON ran the ball into the ‘ Hills ‘22’ where the forwards then picked and drove for 3-4 phases before the ball was passed out wide on the left where Mark GARSIDE then showed strength to place the ball over the try line despite a good last-ditch tackle. Eddie CARTWRIGHT converted well from the touchline. 7 – 12 with 10 minutes remaining. The last 10 minutes was a stalemate until the last 30 seconds when Heath were awarded a penalty some 40 metres out from the ‘ Hills line. Richard COLE found touch some 22 metres from the try line. This was now going to be the last play of the match. Heath won the line out and the ball was driven – in by the forwards on several occasions showing good control of the ball. They got to within a metre of the try line when Colin HEWISON picked up the ball from a ruck and, with the assistance of his colleagues, he was pushed over the line where he scored a well-taken try. Eddie CARTWRIGHT then had a difficult conversion to win the game for Heath. He was up to the task as he calmly put the ball right inbetween the sticks. The referee, Damian O’HEHIR then blew the final whistle. Final score: Heath 14 v 12 Wheatley Hills. This was a good contest between 2 evenly-matched teams. From a Heath perspective, it was good to see them come back from a 12 point deficit in the second half when they never really looked like creating problems for Wheatley Hills. This shows the determination and never-say-die attitude of the team that has been apparent for some time. In a forward-dominated game due to the weather conditions, man of the match awards go to left wing, Matt BAXENDALE who put-in a couple of good runs, chased the ball well when it was kicked downfield and also showed strength in the tackle and, in the forwards, prop Oliver COOK was well to the fore in the loose and performed well in the tight.