After steady first half, Heath power away to victory

Team: 1. Piper 2. Whitworth 3. Morley 4. James 5. Hunter 6. Dawes 7. Owen 8. Raby 9. Cole 10. Reynolds 11. Gleeson 12 Malik 13 Webb 14 Wilkinson 15 Cockroft Replacements: Frankland, Dance On a freezing cold morning, Heath travelled to bottom of the table Otley. With Bruce, a late withdrawal through illness, Webb was a late call up to the backs. With Otley’s first team pitch not made available to their 2nds the game was played at the pitch at Otlensians which involved everyone climbing back into the bus. Frankland kindly offered to fill in for a late arriving prop on the Otley side, to avoid starting with uncontested scrums. Otley kicked off uphill in the first period, James collected and ran straight back into contact. Reynolds kicked through for our first foray into the opponent’s half, Otleys lively full back ran the ball back but strong tacking from Webb and Malik forced a knock on, and the first test of the scrum. The Heath scrum was dominant and allowed Cole to release Reynolds and then Malik who made one of many strong breaks through the line. Reynolds supporting again kicked through and strong a strong chase forced a penalty for Otley holding on in the ruck, from the quick tap which failed to progress, Otley were pinged again for not retreating 10. Heath elected this time to take the scrum. The ball made its way to Reynolds again, for a chip through to Cockroft, but the ball was lost to an accidental offside, allowing Otley to release the pressure. Webb ran the ball back but was tackled into touch about 10 metres out. Heath stole the first of many lineouts and a strong drive through allowed Piper to cross for the first score out wide. Cole took the difficult conversion to add the extras 0 – 7. Otley kicked deep for Wilkinson to catch, his kick went straight to Otley on the 22 but he made up ground and floored the forward to turn the ball over. Heath were having most of the play, but too often chose to kick through instead of retain possession. Heath were giving Otley respite with some silly mistakes, being caught offside a couple of times and then for collapsing a maul. When they retained control, Heath were finding it easy to break the line. but the final ball was often knocked on, mainly due to the freezing conditions. Each time Otley did manage to clear, the benefit of having two great positional kickers in Gleeson and Cole on the pitch was seen, pushing them back into their own half. James had a great run when found out on the wing, but a pass to Wilkinson again only resulted in a penalty for handling on the floor. Play was then held up when an Otley forward received a nasty accidental gash to the head and he left the field. From the Scrum restart Heath turned the ball over, and Malik chipped through for Wilkinson to chase, but Otley cleared, however neat footwork from Piper made space for Malik to run in again in the corner. Cole missed the difficult conversion 0-12. Whitworth came off through illness, to be replaced by Dance. Otley next had their best chances of the half spending a period attacking the try line, great team work from Heath kept them out, with the ball being turnover and then kicked into touch. The ref blew for halftime. Half Time Heath 12 – Otley 0 At halftime, the Otley prop had still not appeared and Frankland returned to the Heath squad with the game moving to uncontested scrums. Heath were looking to make the most of their pacey backs and positional kicking reap dividends down the slope in the 2nd half. Heath kicked off and were immediately on the attack, when they were awarded a penalty for a trip by Otley. From the lineout, the forwards drove on and the ball was then spread wide for Reynolds to kick ahead for the chasing Gleeson, but the ball was too far ahead of him. Next from another soft Otley penalty, they worked space for one of their larger backs to break through and sprint away for a try behind the posts a conversion was also added. The lapse in concentration had put us under unnecessary pressure and given Otley a welcome lift. The team were asked to rally again. 7- 12 Heath hit back almost instantly Otley cleared another penalty but failed to find touch, Gleeson passed to Reynolds and then Cockroft took the ball to half way. The forwards took control and Dance broke through supported by Morley, making great ground, Malik found space to release Webb who ran in the try. The conversion was missed 7 - 17 From the kick off Otley, won a penalty but failed to capitalise preferring to take advantage of the uncontested scrum. They went through their backline but Heath turned over, Gleeson seeing a huge gap behind kicked through and then controlled again, running the ball down and scoring a great solo try. Cole took the extras 7-24 James left the field for Frankland Next a great backline move started by Cockroft, deep in his own half, and involving all the backs ended up with Reynolds releasing Wilkinson for another score to take the game away from Otley 7 - 29 Piper left the field with a strain for James to return Wilkinson caught the kick-off ran it back into contact for the forwards once again to create a great base for Cole to work off. Reynolds, Gleeson and Cockroft combined again to release Owen for a try under the posts, which Cole converted. 7 – 36 In the next passage of play first Dawes had his first try of the season ruled out due the referee being unsighted and then Webb crossed but was pulled back for a forward pass. Heath forced a knock on from the later scrum and James made the final score which Cole converted. The Referee deemed that enough and blew for time. 7- 43 Another great performance by the squad, with the forwards winning nearly every scrum and lineout, with Hunter particularly strong in disrupting the lineout. Raby added drive in the pack once again supported by mobile Owen and Dawes. Piper, James, Dance and Morley are proving themselves more of than match for large opponents and without the uncontested scrums in the 2nd period the score could well have been more. The backs made the most of the slope in the 2nd half with quick passing and tactical kicking. Full Time Heath 43 – Otley 7