Heath start the season in style

Training Game vs Dinnington RUFC

Sunday morning, HQ — three 20-minute thirds

Heath U15s kicked off their 2025/26 campaign with a spirited training match against Dinnington RUFC, played under bright autumn skies at HQ. The game was structured into three 20-minute thirds, allowing the squad to rotate players and build momentum. Four exciting debutants — Will Carter, Kai Knowles, Thomas Crowther, and James Travis — made their mark in a promising first outing.

First Third: Early Exchanges

Dinnington settled quickly, using their powerful forwards to punch through the middle and retain possession. But it was Heath who struck first: a well-drilled lineout taken by Aman Mekala set the platform, and the ball fizzed down the line to Oscar Szadbey, who scorched down the left wing to score. Sonny Gordon added the extras.

7–0 Heath

Dinnington responded swiftly with a well-worked try, then added another before the first break.

Score after 20 mins: Heath 7 – 14 Dinnington

Second Third: Grit and Response

Dinnington continued their structured attack, adding a third try to stretch the lead. James Travis made his presence felt with some crunching tackles, helping to stem the tide.

7–19 Dinnington

Then came the shift. Heath’s energy surged, and a line-breaking run from Thomas Crowther opened up space. Slick handling across forwards and backs sent the ball wide to Harry Lowe, who dived over in the corner. Sonny Gordon nailed the conversion from the touchline.

14–19 Dinnington

At the break, the message was clear: keep the intensity high and stick to the game plan.

Final Third: Heath Take Control

With the set piece solid and the forwards laying a strong foundation, Heath began to dominate. Ben Ingham was outstanding at loosehead, Jasper Haigh turned over ball for fun, and Charlie Anderson consistently broke the gain line.

The comeback began with Alfie Cartwright, finishing a move sparked by a pick-and-go from captain Humphrey Hall. Another conversion from Gordon gave Heath the lead.

21–19 Heath

Lennon Wood kept the tempo high at scrum-half, and after a loose ball was scooped up by Ethan Gill, he arched around his opposite number and sprinted 40 metres to score.

26–19 Heath

Moments later, Heath were back in the Dinnington 22. After a series of thumping drives, Ethan Murphy dived over from close range. Gordon converted again.

33–19 Heath

With two minutes to go, Lennon Wood found Louie Moss, who capped off the day with a well-deserved final try. Gordon’s fifth conversion sealed the score.

Full Time: Heath 40 – 19 Dinnington

Player Mentions

• Sonny Gordon – 5 conversions, calm under pressure

• Oscar Szadbey – electric opening try

• James Travis – big defensive hits

• Thomas Crowther – line-breaking run to spark momentum

• Jasper Haigh – relentless turnover machine

• Kai Knowles & Will Carter – 100% commitment and impressive versatility across multiple positions

• Harry Lowe, Alfie Cartwright, Ethan Gill, Ethan Murphy, Louie Moss – all on the scoresheet

• Ben Ingham, Charlie Anderson – dominant in the pack

• Lennon Wood – tempo and distribution from 9

• Humphrey Hall - great leadership

Man Of The Match - James Travis

🏆 Final Word

A fantastic start to the season for Heath U15s — full of grit, flair, and teamwork. With the Yorkshire Cup clash against Driffield next week, the squad looks sharp and full of promise. The coaching team were delighted with the performance: a positive foundation with plenty of potential.

Well done, lads — onwards and upwards!