Heath lose high-scoring contest

Sam Pollard (centre) and Fergus Marsden (lock) made welcome returns from college as Heath coach Kevin Plant looked for a more disciplined approach from his side.

In superb, sunny conditions Yarnbury kicked off down the slope but Heath settled quickly and applied pressure.

From a lineout, Darren Neilly and Eddie Cartwright went close and Ezra Hinchliffe eventually kicked a simple penalty for offside.

It was Heath’s turn to go under the cosh and Craig Heppenstall was sin-binned for an alleged intentional knock-on, although the ruling was applied after Yarnbury had touched down for what would have been a try.

The respite was only temporary. Hamish Pratt was also yellow carded, reducing Heath to 13 for the second week running, and eventually Ellis Gomersal had a run to the corner for an unconverted try.

A forward pass prevented a certain Yarnbury score on 22 minutes but a break down the left enabled Stuart Wilson to go over for an unconverted try to extend Yarnbury’s lead to 10–3.

Jamie Avieson added a similar score, this time converted, and although Heath were restored to a full side, Yarnbury earned a four-try bonus point on 32 minutes as Heath’s defence crumbled.

Trailing 24-3, Heath were boosted by the sin-binning of Yarbury’s centre and Sellars and Neilly went close before Pratt score and Hinchliffe converted on 37 minutes.

Heath seemed to be back in the game but a series of silly mistakes allowed Yarnbury to score a try out of nothing, a Hinchliffe penalty making the half-time score 29–13.

Centre Van Heel scored a fine try for the hosts, which Ollie Hardaker converted, but Heath re-grouped and produced some good play and Mark Puttick scored a try which Hinchliffe converted to cut the deficit to 16 points.

Play became scrappy. Hinchliffe kicked a penalty but Van Heel scored his second try against the run of play and Yarnbury replacement Gomersall finished off a fine move with an unconverted try to make it 46–23.

A Yarnbury forward was sin-binned on 71 minutes and Heath took advantage. Slick handling enabled Cartwright to score and Hinchliffe converted.

A strong run from Yarnbury lock Falgate paved the way for Gomersal to score his second try under the posts and Hardaker’s kick took the home side to 50 points.

Heath had the final word through Pratt’s try and Hinchliffe’s conversion.