A mirror of earlier league encounter

Play off Semi Final

Team:

1. Kerr   2. Puttick   3. Morley   4. Dance

5. James    6. Wilby 7.Dawes 8. Owen

9. Cole 10. Lomas 11.Wilkinson 12 Malik 13 Horne 14 Bruce 15 Cockroft

Replacements: Burbidge, Whitworth

Heath 2nd team travelled to Warley in the Semi Final of the league playoffs, Vandals having beaten Keighley in the quarter final. On a lovely spring day, both team welcomed the chance to play on the first team pitch and a sizeable contingent of Heath supporters had chosen the 2nd team game over the 1st team fixture at home.

With Reynolds promoted to a starting position with the senior side, Lomas came in at 10 and the returning Horne joined an impressive back line. Morley was also a welcome returnee from injury and bolstered the experienced pack.

Heath started brightly from their kick off and were soon on the attack in the Vandals 22, the impressive James had a strong drive stopped near the line. Heath were unlucky to see the recycled ball turned over by the hardworking Vandals pack who forced a scrum for a knock on. However Heath easily pushed them off the ball, regaining possession and Cole released Lomas who found a gap and sprinted through for the opening score, Cole missed the extras. 0-5

Heath then seemed to switch off, tackling being a particular problem. Shots were far too high and Vandals made huge ground breaking the line several times. From a clearance kick, Cockroft could only kick the ball into touch and Vandals drove from the lineout, they were repelled with a clearing kick but the return forced Wilkinson into an offside offence resulting in a penalty. Vandals showed intent by taking the tap penalty and found space outwide to equalise. They too failed to add the conversion 5-5.

Vandals continued to turn the screw and Heath spent the next 20 minutes camped in the far right hand corner of the ground , and to their credit managed to repel several attacks despite conceding countless penalties . Each time the regained possession, clearance kicks struggled to find distance, not helped by the slope and prevailing wind. On the one break they did manage, the ball found its way to Cockroft, but his final pass to Bruce was just out of reach and went into touch. Vandals returned the ball deep into the corner again. Heath although strong on the scrums were finding little or no success in the lineout, Vandals using a 5 man format to great effect. The side-line support were encouraging Heath to hold out until half time, when the slope and wind would be for them. With kicks proving unsuccessful, James, Kerr and Morley tried running the ball into contact to move us forward with some success. With halftime fast approaching, Heath were again adjudged to have failed to release in the ruck and a further penalty was awarded. With the clock against them, Vandals took the kick and went into the break three points ahead. 8-5

Cole gave words of advice at halftime, with the important message not to panic and to use the conditions to our benefit.

Vandals took the restart, Heath knocked on but once again turned the scrum over. Cole released Lomas who found Horne coming into the line at pace, he easily broke the tackle and ran through for an early score, which lifted the team and crowd. Cole added the extras 8-12

Heath needed to keep this running rugby going as Vandals heads had not gone down. Heath were unlucky not to have been awarded a couple of penalties for offside and also high tackle but the scrum restarts were proving just as good a weapon. Puttick was first to strike at the majority of put ins and turnovers were coming thick and fast. Dance and James had good drives supported by Wilby and Dawes and Cole and Lomas were getting better quality ball, although tackling was still hit and miss. Wilkinson was unlucky not to collect a kick through but manage with the help of Cockroft to snuff out early attacks. From another great run Wilkinson drew a penalty on the 5m line, the scrum was taken and James released Lomas who executed a sublime dummy pass to weave through for a try under the posts. Cole obliged again with extras 8 - 19.

Vandals were there for the taking, and with only 15 minutes left, Heath should have put the game to bed. From the kick off  Heath again knocked on, and Vandals secured the scrum, the ball went wide and it seemed that Wilkinson had hauled the winger into touch, but the try was adjudged to have been scored, despite evidence on the touch line to the contrary, the conversion was missed 13-19. Heath had once again given away a comfortable position to let Vandals within a converted try. Heath attacked from the kick off and won a penalty in kickable range, this was passed up for a lineout which Vandals spoilt. Would they come to rue not taking the points? Heath won the scrum and the ball was sent down the blind side for Wilkinson to touchdown just in the corner. Even though the ball was at the farthest extremes of the pitch Cole added the conversion 13-26. Heath had 5 minutes to hold out and it seemed the job was done. From the kick off, this time the ball was secured and Horne found space and drew the covering defender, releasing Bruce for what seemed like a certain Try, he was however felled by an excellent covering tackle, but he managed to pop the ball up for the chasing Cockroft to score the winning try, sending the Heath support into wild celebrations. Cole’s conversion fell short. Burbidge and Whitworth replaced Owen and James to provide fresh legs, in the final passage of play. With the time up all that was left was for Cole to kick into touch and the ref blew for time. Credit goes to Vandals for providing an excellent and fitting opposition for a semi final, they have been consistently tough in all meetings this season and we wish them well for next season.

With Rishies beating Ilkley easily in the other Semi, a final between the first and second placed teams beckons on the 22nd April. Heath need to improve back to the form shown in earlier season and use practice matches and training to work on tackling and removing silly penalties from their game. With one more competitive match to go, it would be a shame to fall at the final hurdle

Full Time Heath 31– Vandals 13