Heath RUFC Halifax

Selection:

1 Chris Moore 2 Alex McFadden 3 Dan Smith 4 Dillon North 5 Alfie Jones 6 Ben Stringer 7 Harvey K-Payne
8 Tom Clough.
9 Zac Baker 10 Chris Johnson 11 Jake Haynes 12 Seb Jeffers 13 Harry Harrison 14 Elliott Spiers 15 Cliff Howard.
16 Sam Sharp 17 Luke Townsend 18 Harry Fell 19 Sam Cox 20 Josh Buller.

Scorers:

Tom Clough, try x 1. Elliott Spiers, try x 1. Zac Baker, try x 1. Harvey K Payne, try x 1.

Chris Johnson, Pens x 2; Conv's x 4.

Scoring Timeline:

Here.

Men of the Match:

TBC

Match Report

Heath entertained Yorkshire rivals Harrogate looking to find a win over a side they have not lost to in league meetings. Conditions were ideal as both teams entered the field before lining up to acknowledge Remembrance Day as the crowd stood in silence with the Last Post, played by Club stalwart Roger Hammond, echoing around the ground.

The visitors kicked off playing towards the river end and put Heath under pressure from the start, scoring an unconverted try after five minutes to lead 5-0. It was all Harrogate as Heath struggled to contain the onslaught and it came as no surprise when they added to their tally with a converted try, 12-0, on eight minutes to silence the home crowd.

Heath needed to respond and from the re-start were awarded a penalty from which Chris Johnson found touch in the corner. After winning ball and keeping possession, exposing the visitors frail defence, it came as no surprise to see Tom Clough surge over the line for a converted try and Heath were back in the game 12-7 with thirteen minutes on the clock.

It was a frantic start from both sides but Heath were gradually getting on top and, following yet more superb handling, Elliott Spiers was on hand to round off a move with a try in the corner and with Johnson adding the extras Heath led 14-12 with a quarter of the game played. Harrogate were quick to respond and following some inept tackling from the home side they scored a converted try to re-take the lead 19-12.

Dillon North and Dan Smith made way for Luke Townsend and Harry Fell and both were quickly involved in the action. With some ferocious tackling from both sides, it was the visitors who eventually broke the deadlock with another converted try to extend their lead to 26-14 with five minutes left to half time. Tom Clough left the field with Dillon North returning as the game continued to ebb and flow. A scrum on the half-way line was pounced on by Zac Baker, who set off on a mazy run and, with the visitors defence floundering, he managed to scamper over the line for a try, again converted by Johnson, 21-26, as the half time whistle sounded.

It had been a frantic first half for both sides and hopefully it would be more of the same for the second half.

Heath restarted and put the Harrogate defence under pressure from the off, managing to reduce the arrears with Chris Johnson converting a penalty, 26-24. Chris Moore made way for Dan Smith as Heath continued to look to add to their tally. When a Harrogate player received a yellow, Heath had numerical advantage. Then Zac Baker slipped the ball to a rampaging Harvey Keighley-Payne, who smashed over the try-line for a score, again converted by Johnson and Heath re-took the lead 31-26 with fifty minutes played.

Harrogate were struggling to cope with the onslaught and, following yet another penalty, Chris Johnson added the extras, 34-26. From the re-start some woeful tackling from Heath allowed Harrogate to score a converted try on the hour - 34-33 and it was game on. Heath needed to switch back on as the visitors pressed. Tom Clough returned to the action replacing Dillon North. The crowd were enthralled by the battle, as both sides went close to adding to their tally, but Harrogate were beginning to get on top and, when Harvey Keighley-Payne received a yellow, Heath were up against it. Though, some heroic defence from Heath prevented any score.

Then, when Harrogate were awarded a penalty, much to the amazement of the home supporters, they opted for a kick to touch when an attempted easy conversion might have meant they could have taken the lead. Time was running out and with tension high for both sets of supporters Heath had weathered the storm and became encamped in the visitors half. Harrogate managed to grab possession but Heath were not to be denied as, from a mistake, the visitors lost possession and the referee blew for full time.

The game was a typical derby - full on, frantic and littered with mistakes from both sides, but Heath had gained the victory they deserved with a mixture of superb handling skills and tackling with great passion.

The win sees Heath move up a couple of places in the league, as attention now turns to the visit to Wharfedale, who are in the bottom three.

As always see you there!!

League Results, here.

League Table, here.

Today's photography

Bev Clough. More of Bev's photos on her Facebook Page, here. Don't forget to tick 'like' or 'follow'.