Layoff and absences make their mark .......

Heath travelled to South Yorkshire on a cold windy Easter Saturday for this rearranged match against lowly Dinnington. With a much changed side but a loyal band of supporters they began well and settled straight into the game, however it was the home side which notched up the first points with a penalty on 11 minutes - after their first foray into the Heath half: 3 – 0. Two minutes later, Heath were penalized again and Dinnington took the points to lead 6 – 0. It needed the experience of Downsborough, Puttick and Wilby to settle down the young side to start to play rugby – and that’s exactly what they did. When hooker Garland fed Richardson from a lineout on 18 minutes it set up Heath’s first real challenge for points but the move came to naught as Heath were caught offside. Hunter was making his presence felt and Hinchliffe was kicking well to set up position. On 24 minutes, Heath got their reward for some enterprising play from all when Downsborough went over for a try. The conversion was missed but Heath were back in the game at 6 – 5. Heath were struggling in the scrums against a much heavier pack so got the ball away quickly. Hinchliffe released Lomas who in turn passed to the supporting Sheldrake and he moved it along to Brobbey who ran almost the full length of the field only to be held up as a try beckoned. Dinnington seemed unable to match the speed and skills of the young Heath backs. Unfortunately, as half time approached, Dinnington managed another foray into Heath territory and Heath gave away another penalty which was converted to increase the home lead to 9 – 5. Heath responded by going straight on the attack and involving good work from Downsborough, Hunter, Richardson and then Hinchliffe, Lomas and Birkett, but Dinnington held on to half time. It was the worst possible start to the second half for Heath when Gary Pidgeon was injured and Dinnington scored a try from a lineout on 42 minutes. This was converted to give the home side a lead of 16 – 5. Heath had no answer to the home pack and on 50 minutes conceded a push-over try to give Dinnington a lead of 21 – 5. Heath were under the cosh now and conceded another penalty on 54 minutes which put Dinnington ahead by 24 – 5 on 54 minutes. Constant pressure produced yet another try for the home team and they led by 29 – 5 on 60 minutes. Heath needed to respond and when Downsborough had a great run towards the Dinnington line on 66 minutes he was supported by Hinchliffe and Lomas and eventually it was Lomas who went over for a converted try to make the score 29 – 12. Heath continued to work hard and when Cook won a lineout ball on the opposition’s throw, Hinchliffe’s superb kick on 70 minutes set up the next attack. Sheldrake was sin-binned for a tackle on his opposite number so Heath had to play the final 10 minutes with only 14 men. Dinnington piled on the pressure combining strength, weight and experience and despite valiant efforts from Heath’s youngsters, Dinnington scored a try on 79 minutes for the bonus points. Converted, this produced a final score of 36 – 12.