Heath work hard but never really threaten.

Heath were on their travels again for their opening Yorkshire One league encounter at York. They had one change from the team selected with Jack Raby making his debut starting for Fergus Marsden, who started on the bench, at lock. Early exchanges saw both sides testing each other out but on 8 mins Heath were caught offside and York took the lead: 3 – 0. Heath countered with Jordan Glen-Bradbrook, in his first game at fly-half, and wingman Callum Harriet-Brown having a good run. Ezra Hinchliffe followed this with a great penalty kick for position which set up Heath’s first real attack. At the lineout, Ian Downsborough won the ball and the forwards regrouped to push him over for an unconverted try on 15 mins: 3 – 5. York responded from the restart with a try under the posts as Heath’s tackling became non-existent: 10 – 5 on 16 mins. Two good sides were now up for the battle. Josh White and Chris Piper were working hard but Heath gave away another penalty. Fortunately this was missed and then it was York’s turn to give away penalties and Hinchliffe set up good position yet again. On 30 mins, Heath substitutes Marsden and Chris Moore took the places of Raby and Piper. Five minutes before half time, following another kick to the corner, Matt Beasty won the lineout and it looked as though a try had been scored but the referee adjudged a knock-on. The York clearance did not find touch and Eddie Cartwright had a good run as Heath looked for another score. However, York were finding their feet and just before half time they scored an unconverted try in the corner to lead 15 – 5 at the interval. Heath began the second half by giving away another penalty for York to increase their lead to 18 – 5 on 42 mins. Chris Piper came back on when Tom Baxter was injured on 50 mins. Heath were quickly on the attack and a lovely move involving Dom Walsh, Bradbrook and Hinchliffe enabled the latter to scythe through the defence but it ended in touch, 15 metres from the try line. York won the ball and cleared, on 52 mins. Heath’s pack kept storming forward but the York tackling was up to it and they stood firm. Cameron Ramsden came on at 55 mins, for Lewis Barrett. Heath continued to press but they were making too many mistakes as York continued to tackle them. On 70 mins, York made their second attack of the half and Walsh was sin-binned for a deliberate foul, leaving Heath with a mountain to climb. York took immediate advantage with a third unconverted try after running the ball out from their own 22 metres line on 76 mins: 23 – 5.. As full time approached, York were once again on the attack and scored an excellent try in the corner, this time converted, for a final score of 30 – 5. The score did not reflect the percentage game, Heath had lots of possession in the second half (playing down hill) but their game lacked the finesse to break the line. York’s defence was superb and they broke away freely to score the winning try bonus point.