Derby day drama as Heath hold out for thrilling win over Harrogate

The game was a typical derby; full on, frenetic and littered with mistakes from both sides, but Heath’s superb handling skills and uncompromising tackling earned them a valuable five-point victory that lifts them away from the bottom of National League Two North.

The visitors made the early running, scoring an unconverted try after five minutes and adding a converted score to their tally three minutes later to silence the home crowd.

Heath needed to respond and from the restart they were awarded a penalty from which Chris Johnson found touch in the corner. After winning ball and keeping possession, exposing the visitors’ frail defence, it came as no surprise to see Tom Clough surge over the line for a converted try and Heath were back in the game at 12-7 with 13 minutes gone.

The hosts were gradually getting on top and, following yet more superb handling, Elliott Spiers was on hand to round off a move with a try in the corner, improved by Johnson, to edge them ahead with a quarter of the game played.

The end-to-end action continued and following some inept tackling from the home side, Harrogate scored a converted try to go 19-14 up.

Dillon North and Dan Smith made way for Luke Townsend and Harry Fell and both were quickly involved in the action.

With some ferocious tackling from both sides, it was the visitors who eventually broke the deadlock with another converted try to extend their lead to 26-14 five minutes before the break.

Clough left the field with North returning as the game continued to ebb and flow. A scrum on the half-way line was pounced on by Zac Baker, who set off on a mazy run and scampered over the line for a try, again converted by Johnson, to close the gap to five points and round-off a breathless first half.

Heath put the Harrogate defence under pressure from the resumption and they reduced the arrears with Johnson’s penalty.

Chris Moore made way for Dan Smith as Heath continued to look to add to their tally and when a Harrogate player received a yellow, Heath had numerical advantage.

They made that count when Baker slipped the ball to a rampaging Harvey Keighley-Payne, who smashed over the try-line for a score, again converted by Johnson, as Heath regained the lead at 31-26 with 50 minutes played.

Harrogate were struggling to cope with the onslaught and Johnson extended the lead with a penalty.

However, from the restart some woeful tackling from Heath allowed Harrogate to score a converted try on the hour to make it 34-33.

Heath needed to switch back on as the visitors pressed. The crowd were enthralled by the battle, as both sides went close to adding to their tally, but Harrogate were beginning to get on top and, when Keighley-Payne received a yellow, the home side were up against it.

Some heroic defence from Heath prevented any score and Harrogate elected to find touch with a late penalty rather than go for goal as the hosts held out to claim a sensational victory.

Heath Hawks dropped to fourth place in Counties Two Yorkshire B with a 50-26 defeat at Roundhegians.