Heath edged out of it

HEATH tasted defeat for only the second time since joining the National Conference over 12 months ago, when they lost narrowly to Eccles in this close fought contest.

Eccles stormed into the lead in only the second minute through Alan Evans who beat the Heath cover defence to score out wide and Dean Pickup converted.

Despite being under intense pressure as Eccles used the sloping pitch to their advantage it was Heath who put the next points on the board when loose forward Gary Welsby put Mark Hayton through for him to pass out wide to Mike Woods who rounded the defence and grounded under the sticks. Woods also added the conversion.

Two tries in ten minutes both engineered by John McAtee left Heath trailing by 16 points to 8 at half time despite Woods adding a penalty goal for a high tackle.

But this game was lost in the first ten minutes of the second half when Heath conceded first a penalty goal, then a drop goal and finally a try from substitute Malc Catterall.

Heath refused to give up and rallied to score tries through Chris Honey and late on from centre Mark Hayton and with a conversion and a second penalty from Mike Woods Heath went into the last ten minutes still in with a chance. A late effort from Phil Glover was ruled out for a forward pass and you just got the feeling it was not Heath's day.

Men of the Match: Forwards ; Darren Mitchell, Backs Chris Honey. Rylands U13s 34 Thatto Heath 16 After a great first half effort, Crusaders led a strong Rylands outfit 16-4. But a poor second half performance saw Rylands run away with the victory. Tries from the Crusaders came from man of the match Ste Taylor, Craig Dearden, Adam Walsh.

Waterhead U9s 16 Thatto Heath 16 Tries for Thatto Heath came from man of the match Jamie Bradshaw, Danny Glover and Ryan Smith. Top tackler was Ben Smith, coach's award went to Jamie Hewitt and most improved was Nathan Dingsdale.