Scrappy Heath Win at a Canter

By: Andy Houghton

Thatto Heath Crusaders 24-8 Castleford Panthers

This game will not go down as a classic in the memories of anyone who was present at Close Street on this wet and windy Saturday in November. The best entertainment on offer was probably the NWC team who were running in a cricket score against West Bank Swans on the adjacent pitch. However at the end of the day this win counts for two league points just the same as any other and come the end of the season it could prove crucial.

As seems to be the norm at home Heath managed to score early despite conceding possession immediately from the kick off as the Panthers used the blustery conditions to their favour as they hung up the kick off into the wind. Thankfully the kick at the end of the set sat up nicely for Shaun Quinn to make a half break and put Heath on the front foot. From there a couple of strong drives up the middle from Glenn Holland and Mick Ledger improved the field position and as the ball swept left, Andrew Stott launched Dave Johnson through a gaping hole in the Panthers line, he took the ball on, turned it inside to Chris Frodsham who tipped it on to Mark Beech to score under the sticks. Quinn added the extras and Heath were 6-0 up inside 2 minutes.

From there the game descended into somewhat of a knock-on-athon, with the Crusaders edging this part of the contest comfortably, the Yorkshiremen began to assert some pressure. They managed to cross on 15 minutes through lively hooker Scott Holder following a charged down Jimmy Hitchmough kick and a couple of penalties just to give them a little extra help in mounting the pressure required.

And when centre Matt Bacon went in on 22 minutes to give the visitors the lead the alarm bells were well and truly ringing. Neither effort was improved by the visitors and when another kick downfield was partially charged down blood pressure on the Heath side line was about to go through the roof. Fortunately this time the kick bounced kindly for Heath as Hitchmough palmed the ball wide to Dave Sutton, he picked up the bobbling ball in stride an raced 50 metres to score under the sticks with half an hour on the clock. Quinn extended the lead to four with the boot.

Shortly after Quinn had a try ruled out by the linesman who adjudged an offside follow a neat kick from Hitchmough. On 35 minutes Stott combined with Quinn to set Chris Frodsham free down the left, he drew the winger and sent the prolific Darren Woods in at the corner for a 16-8 half time lead.

The second half began brightly as Chris Frodsham went in at the corner as Stott and Quinn combined once more, the latter faced an almost impossible task with the boot into an increasingly strong wind. The skills on show once again succumbed to the weather conditions and only the fact that the visitors were putting up a marginally worse showing allowed Heath to retain control of the game.

On fifty-two minutes Heath managed to come up with the try of the game as Hitchmough set Andy Bailey lose down the right, he straightened and drew his man before popping the ball to Dave Bates, he repeated to attract the cover defence before sending in Sutton for his brace at the corner. This rounded of the scoring as Heath had two others ruled out late on, one for an obstruction and one for a forward pass. In my opinion both looked good tries but would only have served to flatter Heath who will need to improve vastly if they are to maintain their title challenge in the weeks to come.

Jimmy Hitchmough scooped the both the Hattons Solicitors and Spectators Man of the Match gongs with Scott Holder voted best for the Castleford outfit.

Thatto Heath Crusaders

1) Shaun Quinn

2) Darren Woods

3) Chris Frodsham

4) Johnny Hughes

5) Dave Sutton

6) Andrew Stott

7) Jimmy Hitchmough

8) Mick Ledger

9) Keiron Maddocks

10) Glenn Holland

11) David Johnson

12) Andy Bailey

13) Mark Beech

14) Kenny Hughes

15) Carl Lamb

16) Dave Bates

17) Martin Shea

Half-Time: Thatto Heath Crusaders 16-8 Castleford Panthers

Full Time: Thatto Heath Crusaders 24-8 Castleford Panthers

Thatto Heath Crusaders

Tries: Dave Sutton (2), Mark Beech, Darren Woods, Chris Frodsham

Goals: Shaun Quinn (2/5)

Castleford Panthers

Tries: Scott Holder, Matt Bacon

 

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