Heath forward power sets platform for win

1. Piper    6.  Wilby       11 Webb  

2. Puttick     7. Dawes    12 Bruce

3. Morley 8.  Skinner    13 Wilkinson

4. Milner     9. Cole 14 Hinchcliffe

5. James    10 Reynolds   15 Saltonstall

Subs: Watson

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Forward power sets platform for great win

The 2nd team returned to Championship action for the first time in nearly a month against a Bradford Salem team, fresh from a very good performance against table toppers West Leeds. Heath were able to field a strong side, with injured players starting to return to First team action, the players who had filled in very well started to return to the 2nds.

Heath kicked off on a surprisingly sunny day at the West Vale ground, forcing an early penalty, Cole kicked for a 5m lineout and an attacking lineout taken well. The forwards powered forward in their first drive, and the Bradford Salem pack were unable to hold them, allowing Skinner to drop on the ball as it crossed the line. Cole was unable to take the extras from the difficult angle.

Bradford capitalised on an early penalty and attacked the Heath Line, clearance kicks were exchanged, Salem drove for the line again, but excellent defence from the whole pack managed to repel the initial onslaught. Cole managed to clear to the halfway but again Salem pressed, forcing a scrum, from when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts which they slotted over. 5-3

Heath regrouped and won a further penalty in the Salem half for not releasing, Cole took the option of a 5m lineout again, with much the same result, powering forward, this time it was Morley who crashed over. Cole made no mistake with the extras 12-3.

Heath were now starting to impose themselves on the game, Saltonstall executed a great kick to the 22, Salem just managed to secure the ball and clear, Webb found space out wide and released the overlapping Wilkinson. The ball was well recycled by Skinner and Milner, and Cole spread wide to Bruce, skipping through several tackles on a mazy run, he made his way to the 22 before passing to Puttick. With the ball secured again at the breakdown, Cole saw space and executed a neat grubber kick for Wilkinson to sprint through and touch down 17-3. No extras were added

Milner went on the charge, from the restart, losing the ball briefly to a penalty, Heath came back and forced another transgression from Bradford. Cole once again chose the successful 5m lineout play, Milner drove from the set piece, releasing Morley for his 2nd try of the game which Cole once again converted 24-3 securing the bonus point. Heath took the restart securely through James and set a platform for the backs once again, Webb found acres of space, drawing the covering back, passed to Saltonstall for him to sprint through under the posts which Cole added to 31-3. Shortly after the official blew for Half time.

Half Time 31-3

Piper was replaced by Watson

Bradford took the restart and to their credit went on an early attack, Heaths forwards held strong, normal service was resumed when Wilkinson put the fullback under pressure chasing a kick through. With the clearance just making 5m, Heath conceded a scrum for not straight, Piper returned for Morley. With new legs in the scrum, the forwards dominance was total, driving Salem off the ball, Skinner went over for his 2nd with Cole keeping up his great percentage adding the extras. 38-3

James once again secured the high ball, and advanced, Dawes picked up the loose ball and the ruck was formed and secured, with the ball eventually making its was to Webb who partnered well with Saltonstall again for him to get his 2nd under the posts, leaving Cole the easy kick. 45-3.

Forward power was evident again with James and Skinner at the fore, Bruce was in full flight again, this time finding Hinchcliffe who released Webb for another try, bringing up the 50. The difficult conversion just missed. 50-3

James was replaced by Morley

Bradford although beaten were not finished, linking up at the front they managed to scoot through for a consolation try that was not added to 50-8.

Watson was replaced by James. Heaths forwards powered on from the restart, and the backs created a movement more at home on the football pitch, than rugby. Cole kicked through again into space, straight into the hands of Webb, his pass was just too low for Hinchcliffe to collect, he instead chose to control it on his foot and dived onto the lose ball for a try. Cole then executed the conversion of the match from right on the touchline 57-8

James collected the restart, Cole forged into the Salem half again supported by Wilby and Piper, forcing a Salem knock on for a Heath Scrum. Skinner took the ball off the base of the scrum and found James out wide for him to score a well-deserved try. Cole obliged again with the extras 64-8. Shortly after, the official blew for time

A great performance all round and we forge on to Otley at home next week