Great Heath Performance Despite a Few Ringers!

For the second Sunday running, Heath’s Junior Colts travelled to face opposition outside of West Yorkshire. The journey changed from bright weather and warm temperatures to an overcast, cooler environment which meant coats where required for the first time this season. Also for the first time this season, due to no league fixture, this friendly was sure to test the Heath squad, who were facing an opposing team ranked much higher in the league standings than themselves. Coupled to this Doncaster had drafted in three Senior Colts players due to County commitments, Heath also had three players on West Yorkshire duty; the question asked of this developing squad, could they still compete against top opposition. In consecutive weeks, Heath failed to deal with the opposition’s kick off, which lead to early pressure applied by the home team. Heath failed to clear their lines, which allowed Doncaster to capitalise on the unorganised Heath set up and score an easy try. This wasn't the start Heath we're looking for. (5-0, unconverted try). Heath immediately woke up as they realised this game was going to be a much harder contest than first expected. Due to hard rucking from the forwards and great line speed and organisation from the backs, Heath managed to gain territory and push Doncaster back into their own 22. The Heath pressure showed as Doncaster made decisive errors in key positions, this allowed Heath to gain a penalty. Heath decided to kick the penalty so they could pressurise Doncaster on the score board as well as on the field. (5-3, penalty conversion) For the next 20 minutes the game was evenly balanced and fiercely contested. With a lapse of concentration from Heath, Doncaster retained the ball just over the half way line. Due to a sublime pass from the Dons fly half, the home team were able to, once again, run the ball over the line to make the score 10-3 (unconverted try). From the kick off, Heath’s set pieces were consistent at providing clean ball for the backs. This lead to a break from the scrum by Heath’s number 10 Harry Freeth, who showed great pace by beating two of Doncaster’s backs on the outside right. The ball was then offloaded to Heath’s winger, Liam Sykes, this allowed Heath’s number 14 to continue his rich vein of form and race over half the length of the pitch, evading ferocious attempts to stop him, to touch down over the try line. (10-8, unconverted try). The whistle then blew for half time. Heath made much needed changes in key positions at half time, which injected energy into a team that was already primed for the second half. The second half started as a scrappy affair, due to Doncaster trying to regain dominance within the game using off the ball tactics. This remained the same for large parts of the second half as Heath remained camped in their own half unable to relieve pressure but due to excellent tackling and defensive commitment Heath held Doncaster at bay, until the final five minutes of the game, when the home side, finally, drove the ball over the line from a quickly taken tap penalty (17-8, converted try). Although this was Heath’s first defeat of the season, in many ways, it was their best performance. Many positives can be taken from the game into Heath’s next fixture. This game showed that Heath’s squad was more than capable against proven opposition, this now could leave the squad’s coaching team with difficult selection decisions. Heath Stats Harry Freeth Penalty Liam Sykes 1st try Forwards man of the match Max Dawes Backs man of the match Kyle Tetley Score line 5-3 10-3 10-8 15-8 17-8