Well contested, but lost in dying seconds.

Selection:

Luke Townsend,  Jordan Shaw,  Chris Moore,  Carrick K Payne,  Sam Brown,  Brook Ward,  Elliot Knight,  Sam Sharp.

Sam Cox,  Sam Fletcher (C),  Reuben Flynn,  Ben Hall,  Jack Malthouse,  Elliott Spiers,  Jack Bruce.

George Heron,  Keiran Baldry,  Harry Granger.

Scorers

Tries: Keighley-Payne, Spiers, Knight, & Moore.
Cons: Fletcher (2).

STAR PLAYERS: Elliott Spiers & Chris Moore

Match Report

Heath welcomed Sheffield to North Dean for a highly anticipated top of the table clash. Both teams went into the game unbeaten after the first five rounds in Counties 2 Yorkshire B. 

From the start, Sheffield looked to play from deep, combining big carries and clever back play which highlighted the step up in quality. The visitors opened the scoring, after a long break by the left winger, only denied by heroic defence by Reuben Flynn, Sheffield's 10 dummied and beat the retreating defence (0-5).

The Hawks settled into the game and began to build some pressure. The Heath scrum was dominant, disrupting Sheffield's set piece and allowing Sam Cox quality ball to get the team rolling forward. After a couple of breaks by Jack Bruce and Sam Fletcher, Carrick Keighley-Payne ran over a defender to score from close range, Fletcher converted (7-5). However, against the run of play, Sheffield hit back when their back rower spotted a gap and ran untouched from 20 metres out (7-12). Heath came back strongly with another long Bruce break looking like a certain score but the final pass couldn’t be taken in.

Sheffield finished the half strongly and from a catch and drive, managed to get over the line (7-19 HT).

Heath knew they had to tighten up in certain areas and take the game to the league leaders. Early in the second half, Elliott Spiers received the ball from a scrum deep in his own half before beating three would be defenders to score a brilliant try (12-19). The Hawks were on top now and looked the most likely, Ben Hall & Jack Malthouse were causing havoc in attack and defence, Flynn had a couple of half chances but scrambling defence managed to deny any further scores. The Hawks looked to attack from deep but a misplaced kick allowed Sheffield's elusive fullback to collect and weave his way over from halfway (12-26).  

Undeterred, Heath went on to dominate the last quarter, lead superbly by Chris Moore, Luke Townsend & Elliot Knight. After a few close calls, Heath took advantage of good field position for Knight to show great leg drive to power over, Fletcher converted (19-26). The visitors were creaking, Cox broke from a quick tap, Spiers went close before the pack took over, Moore barging his way over wide on the right, with Fletcher seeing his conversion attempt hit the post and bounced away (24-26).

With 4 minutes remaining the home side went in search of the winning score, pushing through into Sheffield’s half, only to see the ball bounce into touch to deny a half chance at the end (24-26 FT).

This was a great game between two quality teams who will have a big say at the top of this league. The Hawks will regroup and look to bounce back next Saturday away at Roundhegians.

UTHH

League results, here.

League Table, here.

Photography

All photos courtesy of Andy Keighley.

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