Heath after a good win against Bridlington the week before were the visitors at Clifton Park on Saturday. York went into the game attempting to put a disappointing performance at Ilkley, behind them. York started the game with a strong wind at their backs and nearly went ahead in the first seconds of the game as Richie Roberts (Wing forward) collected the Heath kick off and evaded the chasing Heath forwards to release Mark Benson (2nd row) who galloped away down the touch line. It was only a fantastic cover tackle by Matt Hallett the Heath full back that prevented Benson from scoring his maiden first team try. York dominated both possession and field position pressing the Heath line in the early exchanges mounting a number of attacks for the next five minutes but Heath’s impressive scrambling defence held, York had put together 9 phases of play before John Dawes (stand-off) dropped a pass on the Heath 22 metre line this was hacked through by Charlie Lomas the Heath stand-off who collected the ball and raced clear to score from 80 metres under the York posts. Try converted by Ben Mitchell. York 0 Heath 7.
The pattern was set for the first half York pressing hard and controlling field position but Heath always looking that they might punish any York mistakes or inaccuracies. York scored a try on 19 minutes after Billy Cakaunitabua (right wing) came into the line from the blindside right wing on a planned move. He was tackled midfield and York moved quick ball to the left wing with Gareth Singleton (left wing) going close. York recycled and moved quick ball back to the right wing where excellent handling and interplay saw Joe Maud (wearing 6, playing at No8) link twice before putting Cakaunitabua over in the corner for a great team try, Dawes saw his difficult conversion attempt hit the upright and stay out. York 5 Heath 7.
York took the lead after 30mins for the first time with a 25 metre successful penalty kick from Dawes following a high tackle by Heath. Heath who had been under significant pressure managed to break out by some powerful running down the centre channel before York erred at the breakdown allowing a kick to the corner and an attacking Heath lineout 7 yards from the York line. Heath executed the catch and drive well resisting the determined York efforts to disrupt the driving maul, keeping the ball alive and off the ground the impressive Dave Montgomery (no 8) crashed over to score.
Conversion attempt missed York 8 Heath 12 half time score.
Heath turned around and with the wind at their backs and must have believed they had a great opportunity to go on and win the game. York made a tactical substitution at half time replacing Ben Hepworth with Will Norris at the tight head. This lead to York domination in the front row battle affording the York back row front foot advantage at the set piece for the second half. Into the breeze York kicked sparingly preferring to run the ball and keeping it in hands. York resisted early Heath pressure defending manfully two further catch and drive lineouts on their own line before York took control of the second half with powerful broken play running from Maud and Cakaunitabua punching gaping holes into the Heath defence. It was after was after one such combination that in the 58th minute Chris Atkinson crossed for a well taken try following a period of sustained pressure on the Heath
line. Dawes converted 15 Heath 12. Having just themselves back in the lead York coughed a silly penalty from the restart. Fortunately for them the attempt at the posts was missed.
York continued to attempt to move the ball sometimes inviting pressure on themselves from their over ambitious play in their own 22. Heath found the width of the York running game difficult to contend with and often played into the York hands by conceding possession with a number of poor kicks.
In the 79th minute Joe Maud capped off a man of the match performance with a try when he was the beneficiary of a pass following a snipe by Tom Boyle (scrum half). This followed another rampaging run down the wing by Benson followed by a great forwards driving maul deep into the Heath 22. Dawes Converted. Final score York 22 Heath 12.Messers Bass and Clegg will be pleased with the way York side bounced back from last week’s disappointment