Heath RUFC Halifax

Selection:

Josh Buller, Alex McFadden, Dan Smith, Alex Patrick, Dillon North, Tom Stansfield, Harvey K-Payne, Tom Clough.

Sam Cox, Chris Johnson, Jake Haynes, Ezra Hinchliffe, Seb Jeffers, Callum H Brown, Cliff Howard.

Johnny Cole, Luke Townsend, Alfie Jones, Zac Baker, Elliott Spiers.

Scorers.

Pen try x 2

Callum H Brown, try x 2. Seb Jeffers, try. Cliff Howard, try. Tom Clough, try.

Chris Johnson, pens x 2; convs x 2.

Man of the Match

Seb Jeffers

Ezra Hinchliffe

RFU Scoreline

Here

Match Video Highlights

To follow

Match Report

Heath entertained local rivals Huddersfield, with both teams out for the win and bragging-rights. Heath gave debuts to Seb Jeffers, Alfie Jones and Luke Townsend, as they looked to get back to winning ways after two defeats. While Huddersfield had ex Heath players Dom Walsh, Seif Boussaada and Jonny Garrity in their squad. A huge crowd had assembled for the derby clash and with conditions ideal signs were it was going to be a frantic game and this proved to be the case.

The visitors kicked off playing towards the river end and they had the perfect start pressing the home defence. When Tom Stansfield stole the ball on the Heath try-line he ran clear before passing to Callum Harriott-Brown who set off on a run into the visitors half. Heath managed to keep hold and Jake Haynes went close before the ball sped back across the line for Harriott-Brown to score in the corner, 5-0, with three minutes on the clock.

Huddersfield responded and from a line out they crashed over for a try to level the scores 5-5 with six minutes played. It was a frantic start to the game as Heath went back on the attack, but it was Huddersfield who scored next when they won line out ball to crash over for a try, 10-5, with fourteen minutes played.

The re-start saw Huddersfield make a mistake and Heath took advantage as Chris Johnson found touch. Winning line out ball Heath drove into the visitors' defence before it came out wide for Harriott-Brown to score his second try in the corner. The conversion from Johnson hit the post and bounced clear but Heath were back on level terms, 10-10. However, the visitors had other ideas, cutting the Heath defence wide open with a converted try, 17-10 with twenty minutes played.

Dillon North made way for Alfie Jones as Heath looked to get back into the game and, when Huddersfield had a player yellow carded, they had an opportunity but could only score a penalty conversion from Chris Johnson for a half time score of 17-13.

The break saw the crowd buzzing from the first half action and hoping it would be more of the same for the second half.

Heath kicked off, immediately putting the visitors defence under pressure and from some slick handling Seb Jeffers received the ball only to be held up short of the try-line. However, the ball came out to Cliff Howard who was on hand to touchdown and a difficult conversion was kicked by Johnson as Heath led 20-17 with forty-two minutes on the clock.

Heath continued to go in search of adding to their tally as Jonny Cole came on for Dan Smith and, when they demolished the Huddersfield scrum, the ball came across to Callum Harriott-Brown who made a superb run to the line before passing to Jake Haynes who was tackled off the ball and the referee had no option but to award a penalty try to Heath, 27-17, with fifty minutes played.

From the re-start, Harvey Keighley Payne took a high tackle from a Huddersfield player who was carded and Heath had the advantage. With the visitors on the rack, Heath continued to bombard the Huddersfield defence. Scrumhalf Sam Cox made way for Zac Baker who was quickly involved in the action and Heath were rewarded with a super try from debutant Seb Jeffers, 32-17.

Elliott Spiers came on for Cliff Howard, as Heath continued to batter the visitors defence and, following more slick handling, Tom Clough was on hand to waltz over the line for a converted try, 39-17, with twenty minutes left to play. Huddersfield were all over the place and conceded another penalty, converted by Johnson, 42-17. From the next home attack the visitors conceded a penalty try in sheer desperation, 49-17.

Tom Clough and Chris Johnson came off as Huddersfield tried to rally and they were rewarded with a converted try in the last play of the game for a final score of 49-24.

Heath fully deserved the win in what was a pulsating game of rugby. The first half was even with Huddersfield just about deserving their lead but the second half saw Heath blitz their way to a superb victory to move up a place in the league and put Huddersfield bottom of the pile. Next week it is a visit to league leaders Sedgley Park and as always see you there!!

League Results

Here

League Table

Here

Photography.

Bev Clough and John Baker. More of bev's photos, here, on Facebook. Don't forget to tick Like and / or follow.