First Round Bragging Rights to Heath. Excellent Win!!

What a match.  Both from the players’ point of view and the spectators’,  as this battle of a game swung from one teams’ advantage to the other, culminating in a last kick victory for Heath and huge relief for the large contingent of home supporters - as they have first bragging rights of the season.

Since the game was unfortunately abandoned, back in November ,both sides have had very similar results with Heath winning five of their last seven games and Brods four, with one drawn against York and two losses.  So, as the gladiators entered the field of play, it was anybody’s game - and difficult to predict.

These derby games have gone with the home side since the 2012/13 season and so Heath began the encounter with some confidence and were in much better shape. Jordan Bradbrook was first to show, with a mazy run in the first few minutes, before Jack Sheldrake joined in with a fine scything run through a weak Brods defence, who were having trouble coping with the Heath attack. Brods started to claw their way back into the game and, eventually, the deadlock was broken. After several attempted tackles from Heath resulted in a penalty being awarded to the visitors, the first points of the day were on the board, 3 - 0 Brods after 13 minutes.

The game was frantic and there were several high tackles, but not malicious, and from one infringement Heath levelled the scores with a penalty from Ezra Hinchliffe, 3 - 3 after 21 minutes.

Heath were now controlling the game and a huge Bradbrook clearance set up another onslaught. Brods had to give away penalties, but weathered the storm and came back with a second penalty kick of their own, on 25 minutes, to re-take the lead 6 - 3. Back came Heath ,with James Robson and Ezra Hinchliiffe linking well, before Dom Walsh and Jordan Bradbrook linked to release Luke Saltonstall to go in for an unconverted try on 30 minutes, for Heath to lead 8-6.

This seemed to inspire Heath and with good runs from Chris Moore and Tom Baxter, Brods were struggling to keep the Heath attack at bay. On 34 minutes, Si Brown was bundled into touch as a try was looming and, from a scrum, Howard Hanks thought he had scored but the referee brought play back for an infringement. Brown was injured going for the try so on came Eddie Cartwright but it was all Heath as half time came in what had been an exciting first 40 minutes.

With Chris Piper coming on for Chris Moore, in the front row, the second half began brightly for  Heath. Another exciting run from Bradbrook set up a scrum near the Brods try-line and ,with the Heath pack in control, the ball came out via Walsh - whose pass to Eddie Cartwright saw a try in the corner 13 - 6 after 46 minutes.

Brods re-grouped and began to put immense pressure on the Heath defence, becoming encamped in the home side’s 22, but sterling defence kept the visitors at bay. Jordan Bradbrook and Ezra Hinchliffe both put in huge clearances, to relieve the pressure but, eventually, Brods were rewarded with a penalty, on 64 minutes, before taking the lead on 69 minutes - with an unconverted try, for the visitors to steal the lead 14 - 13 with ten minutes of the match remaining.

The game now was evenly poised and, as the minutes ticked by, it was Heath who were looking the more composed and went in search of that elusive score. Bradbrook linked again with Saltonstall, before another huge clearance saw Heath in the Brods 22 for the last play of the game. One final scrum and the ball found its way along the Heath backs to where Ezra Hinchliffe had positioned himself for a drop kick. The move seemed to go on forever but, eventually, Hinchliffe received the ball, dodged an opponent and calmly slotted it between the posts, to snatch victory as the referee blew for full time and Heath had won 16-14.

This was one of the best games seen at North Dean for a long time and Heath fully deserved their win ,against a side who are looking to get promoted. Heath were dogged in defence and broke well at the right times to secure a memorable victory.

Finally, Ian Rushworth was at the game to report for the Hx Courier.  Here's a link to his thoughts on the match: http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/sport/more-sport/ezra-comes-up-trumps-again-1-8347130