HEATH BLITZED IN FIRST HALF, BY VISITORS DARLINGTON, BUT BOUNCE BACK AND SECURE BONUS POINT IN SECOND

Selection

Josh Buller, Jonny Cole, Dan Smith, Dillon North, Alex Patrick, Ben Stringer, Tom Stansfield, Tom Clough.

Zac Baker, Chris Johnson, Jake Haynes, Ezra Hinchliffe, Callum H-Brown, Elliott Spiers, Cliff Howard.

Alex McFadden, Chris Moore, Seif Boussaada, Max Rowntree, Reuben Flynn.

Scorers

Jake Haynes, tries x 2.  Ben Stringer, try.  Tom Stansfield, Try.  Tom Clough, try.

Chris Johnson, conv's x 4.

Scoring Timeline

From ERFU website; link

Men of the Match

Elliott Spiers & Ben Stringer.

Write Up & Photos in the Hax Courier, here.

Tries Video on Facebook:  Here.

Match Report

Heath entertained fourth place Darlington Mowden Park in the latest round of games, looking to build on last week's first win of the season. Injuries and un-availabilities saw changes to the side with Tom Clough returning from injury and there were starts for Jonny Cole, Dan Smith, Zac Baker and Elliott Spiers, plus there was a debut for winger Reuben Flynn.

Conditions were ideal with bright sunshine greeting the teams as they entered the field. Heath kicked off, playing towards the Stainland Road end, and a mistake from the visitors saw a penalty awarded in the first minute. Chris Johnson found touch and when Ben Stringer collected line out ball the drive was on. Darlington struggled and when Elliott Spiers released Jake Haynes, the wingman crossed the line for an opening try, converted by Chris Johnson and a score of 7-0 with two minutes played. What a start!!

Heath continued to press as the visitors struggled to adapt but a break came on ten minutes from a Heath mistake on the half-way line which saw a Darlington player kick clear and from the chase he touched down to level the scores, 7-7. This seemed to inspire the visitors as they took advantage of some Heath mistakes scoring three additional tries in the space of ten minutes to lead 26-7 with the home side in disarray. Heath needed to re-group and, when Saif Boussaada came on for Alex Patrick, he tried hard to help stem the flow but it was the visitors who finished the half with another converted try and a score of 33-7.

Heath needed to re-group and, as they returned for the second half, Alex McFadden replaced Tom Clough in the only change. Heath received the ball and made good yardage before being awarded a penalty. Johnson found touch in the corner, Ben Stringer again claimed line-out ball and from the drive a super pass out to Jake Haynes saw the flying wingman touchdown in the corner. Chris Johnson added the extras, 33-14 with two minutes of the second half played.

The next period of play saw a number of changes for Heath to refresh the side and as they adapted Darlington pounced with a converted try, 40-14 with a quarter of the game left to play.

Reuben Flynn came on for Elliott Spiers as Heath tried to claw their way back into the game and, following excellent work, Ben Stringer crossed the line for a converted try to reduce the arrears, 40-21.  It was time to look for a bonus point - but Mowden had other ideas, scoring a converted try from a breakaway, 47-21 with ten minutes left to play.

Heath needed to respond as Spiers returned for Jonny Cole.  They became encamped in the visitors 22 and, with five minutes remaining,  Darlington giving away numerous penalties, one drive from Tom Stansfield saw him smash his way over the line for try number four, 47-26. Heath continued to press in the final minutes and their tenacity was rewarded when Tom Clough was on hand to score a fifth try, converted by Chris Johnson, for a final score of 47-33.

It had been a stop start game from Heath who looked dead and buried at half time but their resilience paid off.  A score of 47-33 was respectable as they secured a bonus point. Next up is a trip to the North East to take on Tynedale as always see you there.

League Results, here.

League Table, here.

Photography

Bev Clough, John Baker & Vic Heritage.

More of Bev's photos, here.

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