Heath go unrewarded after spirited display at leaders Sedgley Park

Heath went up against a side who, in their previous five games, had amassed nearly 350 points but the visitors competed well and two late tries flattered the hosts in a final scoreline of 40-3.

Indeed, it was Heath who broke the deadlock, Chris Johnson kicking a penalty with three minutes played.

Park responded immediately, putting Heath's defence under pressure, scoring two tries and a conversion to take the lead 12-3 with only ten minutes on the clock.

Heath managed to regroup as they fought to keep hold of the ball. Injuries to Ezra Hinchliffe and Dillon North saw Elliott Spiers and Alfie Jones enter the arena as Heath continued to battle to keep out the home side but, on the half-hour mark, Sedgley scored another converted try.

Josh Beck came on for Dan Smith and, as the half time whistle sounded, Heath had worked hard to keep the game alive but injuries were mounting.

The second half began with the home side once again on the attack and on 44 minutes they scored a converted try to extend their lead to 26-3 and it looked like the flood gates were going to open for Park who, with slick handling, were exposing the visitors’ defence.

But, immense credit must go to Heath who had other ideas and continued to put their bodies on the line. Gradually Heath clawed their way back into the game and became encamped in the home side's half.

Zac Baker and Josh Beck replaced Tom Egan and Luke Townsend as Heath pressed for a try and when Seb Jeffers broke the home defensive line he was held short by a covering tackle.

Next up, Park collapsed a scrum and were penalised with a penalty but, Heath couldn't break down the home side's defence.

Harry Fell slipped a pass to Seb Jeffers who, again, broke the Park line only to drop the ball but Heath were a different team now and were desperate for a try.

However, with five minutes left to play Heath efforts were in vain as Park weathered the storm and scored a converted try on 77 minutes and from the restart, with Heath attacking, they intercepted a pass in their 22 to run over for a final converted try and a final score of 40-3.

The result does not reflect the hard work Heath put in against a side who look title favourites.

With no game this weekend, Heath’s players can recover before a trip to the seaside to take on Fylde at the end of the month.

Heath Hawks rose to the top of Counties 2 Yorkshire B thanks to their 33-20 victory over Bramley Phoenix 1sts.

The Hawks ran in five tries and added four conversions. This weekend they travel to bottom side Wath upon Dearne.