Second Half Heroics See Heath Over the Hill

By: Graham Henthorne

Thatto Heath Crusaders 22 v 16 Bradford Dudley Hill

A gutsy and resilient second half performance was needed to see Heath past a Dudley Hill side intent on revenge for our win earlier in the season in Bradford.

This was by far the best display of the season from a visiting team at Close Street and it took all the determination that the much changed Heath team could muster to get past them.

Injuries, suspensions and Christmas Do’s meant that Hatto’s team pretty much picked itself and a shaky start which saw Heath concede an 80 metre try after only five minutes made everyone sit up and take notice.

Drives from the returning Al Shea and the outstanding Glenn Holland gave Maddocks the room to grubber to the corner and get a repeat set. Heath continued to pound the line but a poor grubber from Stotty seemed to have lifted the pressure. But he redeemed himself with a big hit dislodging the ball for Kenny Hughes to pick up. From the play the ball quick hands to the right gave Matty Bell the space to scoot into the corner. Froddy’s touchline conversion gave the lead back to Heath.

Lazy marker play from Heath saw a successful Hill penalty bring the scores back level only for Heath to snatch the lead back from the kick off. A knock-on gave Heath a scrum on the Hill 10 metre line and five tackles later Stotty was hoisting a bomb to Daz’s wing. He climbed and tapped it inside to Alex Trumper who took his opposite number over with him in the corner.

Some poor tackling gifted Hill cheap yards and more lazy marker play allowed them to scoot into the corner to pull the scores back to within two.

Aided by a quick defensive line the visitors were putting Heath under a lot of pressure. This pressure tolled five minutes before the break as the visitors regained the lead as the left winger went in at the corner taking advantage of an overlap.

Harsh words from Hatto at the break and the introduction of Jimmy Hitch off the bench had the desired effect as Heath looked a stronger outfit. One of Stotty’s famous cross kicks to the corner was missed by Daz but picked up by the ever alert Trumper who strolled gleefully over for his second.

Daz would have scored minutes later had he been able to take Froddy’s pass around the man. But Hill were not intimidated and Heath were lucky to escape as a knock-on at the line after a 60 metre move spared their blushes.

The game became a real slog in the heavy conditions with both teams having periods in the ascendancy and looking as if the pressure was finally going to tell only to relinquish the advantage.

But in the final 10 Heath just managed to get their noses in front. Some big goal-line defence had repelled the borders before Stotty, Trumper and DJ combined to not only stop a Hill drive, but dragged the player in touch turning possession over in the Dudley Hill half. This was just enough of a territorial foothold for Heath to push on to the end.

Firstly Lamby was held on his back over the line and another good defensive set had the visitors reeling. Maddocks and Glenn drove it in down the right. From the play the ball Hitchy fed Stotty who ran along the line before dropping the ball off to Daz to score the winner with an arcing run to the line.

For a Heath team missing many regular faces this was a great win. Everyone played their part and a wonderful second half gave us the spoils.

Trumper did well in the unfamiliar position of centre and Maddocks, Scott and Hitchy in combination with Stotty ran the middle. But a special mention must go to Glenn and Ste Ward who ran their blood to water for the team.

 

Thatto Heath Crusaders

1. Chris Frodsham

2. Darren Woods

3. Alex Trumper

4. Matty Bell

5. Adam Walsh

6. Andy Stott

7. Kenny Hughes

8. Alan Shea

9. Kieron Maddocks

10. Glenn Holland

11. David Johnson

12. David Bates

13. Ste Ward

14.James Hitchmough

15.Carl Lamb

16.Scott Clarke

17.Karl Sandford

 

Bradford Dudley Hill

1. Lewis Evans

2. Dwaine Nelson

3. Craig Tyman

4. Alex Dickinson

5. Jamie Brentley

6. Tony Williams

7. Danny Thomas

8. Liam Jordan

9. Nathan Kitson

10. Jason Lee

11. Neil Way

12. Anthony Huby

13. Sean Dickinson

14. Micky Glen

15. Danny Conroy

16. Liam Jarvis

17. Kyle Bateman

 

Thatto Heath Crusaders:

 

Tries : Darren Woods, Alex Trumper 2, Matty Bell.

Goals : Chris Frodsham 3.

Drop Goals :.

 

Bradford Dudley Hill:

 

Tries : Alex Dickinson, Jamie Brentley, Danny Conroy.

Goals : Tony Williams 2.

Drop Goals :.

 

 

Half Time : Thatto Heath Crusaders 14

Bradford Dudley Hill 16

 

Full Time : Thatto Heath Crusaders 22

Bradford Dudley Hill 16

 

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