The 2nds keep rolling on ........

Cleckheaton 3rds at Home Heath won 79-0 Team: 1. Whitworth 2. Puttick 3. Morley 4. Dance 5. Day 6. Dawes 7. Wilby 8. Barnes 9. Hetherington 10. Robson 11. Bull 12 Malik 13 Bruce 14 Wilkinson 15 Webb Replacements: Dodd Sidebottom Meade Powerful Heath performance, despite several absentees Heath lost several regulars this week due to the International game being held in Huddersfield, although they were watching rather than playing. However, the depth of the squad was demonstrated with this very accomplished performance. In fine conditions Heath kicked off, and very quickly had Cleckheaton pinned back in their 22 Cleck, known for their strong forward play managed to defend the excellent aggression from Heaths pack, in early exchanges. Heath learning as the game went on, Hetherington and Robson working well to bring their more mobile back line into play earlier, and from a lineout the ball rapidly made its way to the wing, where the free scoring Wilkinson crossed for the opening score. Webb missed the difficult kick 5 – 0 The next few minutes were a little scrappy, with both sides exchanging knock-ons, with Heath next winning a penalty for not releasing, the backs again showed power with Bruce linking well with Webb for his first score of the afternoon. Webb took the extra points from a difficult position out wide 12 – 0. Next Heath overturned a Cleck lineout and Malik made ground then released Bruce who darted back inside, to score. Webb Converted 19 -0. Heath returned the kick-off back into their opponent’s half, and Wilkinson’s charge down fell to Barnes, he deftly chipped the ball through for Wilkinson to continue his run, and score near the post, making Webb’s conversion a formality 26- 0. A lapse in concentration caused Heath to kick a clearance straight into touch, back deep in their own half, but they regained possession immediately and Bruce once again received the ball, he showed a clean pair of heels to the chasing backs. Webb missed the extras from out wide 31- 0. The signs were looking ominous for our opponents, they had little respite when they lost a scrum against the head from the kick off. Dance and Puttick made ground, through excellent drives, supported by Morley and Day, this gave Hetherington a great base to set-up Malik, who spotting a gap in the defence sprinted through to make the score, Webb again converted 38 – 0. To their credit Cleckheaton rallied and it was Heaths time to defend, complacency could have crept in, but the team were unrelenting in their tackling, wanting to keep a clean sheet again. A great run by Bull, from deep in his own half, was stopped by an excellent tackle on Clecks 22 and the referee blew for Half Time Heath 38 – Cleck 0 Coach Baxter was keen to impress on the team, that they should concentrate on game plan and simple moves, then the points would continue to flow. They would only be beaten by over confidence Cleckheaton restarted, straight into the waiting arms of Wilby who drove on and released Dance for another characteristic charge through, breaking the line. Malik took the ball on further and seeing Bruce unmarked outside, passed the ball for him to score. Webb moved the scores onto 45 – 0. The next score was not long in coming, Heath took a scrum on halfway after the ball failed to clear the 10m line, Hetherington, collected the ball from the base and sprinted through unchallenged. Webb missed the conversion 50 – 0. From the kick-off, again Heath attacked, another kick through was nearly taken by Bull, but he was tackled off the ball, only for the chasing Webb to collect and cross. The conversion was missed 55 – 0 Wilby again collecting the high ball from Kick off, drove on. The supporting Dawes won a penalty when, his tackler failed to release once again. Hetherington took the quick tap penalty, passed to Robson and then Wilkinson who crossed once again. Webb converted 62 -0. Points seemed possible from every move now, the game had moved to uncontested scrums, due to a Cleckheaton injury, and from one of these Malik found himself in a huge space to cross again. Webb missed the conversion out wide 67-0. Heath thought they had moved over the 70-point mark in quick succession, but the referee had called play back for a Cleckheaton Head injury. However once the game was restarted, with Wilkinson moving to scrum half for experience, Webb received the ball after good work from Dance and Malik, to score again out wide. No extra points were added from the kick 72-0. There was just time for Wilby and Dance to combine to release Malik for another try under the posts, which Webb converted 79-0 With the agreement of both Captains the match was ended.