Heath stay within striking distance of Yorkshire One summit after thrashing Salem

Heath welcomed back club captain Alex McFadden for his first start since injury in the Brods derby, back in January, with the only other change seeing Michael Reynolds take a seat on the bench.

Salem arrived at North Dean sitting in seventh spot in the league and were capable of producing some good rugby, so Heath had to be on top of their game if they were to get anything from it.

Salem took the lead with a penalty to go 3-0 up with nine minutes played.

From a penalty, Dan Cole found touch and as Fergus Marsden soared high in the line out to win ball the Heath forwards drove towards the line and Alex Patrick emerged for a try in the corner. Ezra Hinchliffe hit a superb conversion and Heath led 7-3 with 13 minutes played.

Hinchliffe released Willie Tufui and the wingman set off on a charge. The Salem defence covered but Heath retained the ball and threw it back across the field to their other wing, Callum Harriott-Brown, who set off on a daunting 50 metre run to score a second try in the corner, 12-3 with 20 minutes played.

Heath were now finding some rhythm but had a lapse of concentration on 30 minutes as Salem won the ball and danced over for a converted try, 12-10.

Shortly after Salem converted a penalty to take the lead 13-12, Saif Boussadda and Olly Cook replaced Paul Turner and Fergus Marsden but, with time ticking, half time arrived with no further score.

In the second half, Dan Cole collected the ball on Salem’s 22 and threw a startling dummy to flatfoot the Salem defence and score a third try under the posts, converted by Hinchliffe, 19-13, with 50 minutes on the clock.

This seemed to have the desired effect on Heath as Dom Walsh began to instigate a number of plays. Olly Cook was held up just short of the line and following a number of scrums the ball squirted out to Harriott-Brown who scored his second try in the corner 24-13.

Saif Boussadda drove forwards and with Tom Owen in support up popped Alex McFadden for another try, 29-13, with 65 minutes played.

Heath were now playing fast open rugby and with Salem struggling they had a player sin-binned for a no-arms tackle on Harriott-Brown. However, the wingman quickly bounced back rounding off a brilliant move form Heath with his hat-trick try on 74 minutes.

With a minute left, Dan Cole pounced on a dropped ball by Salem to score his second try under the posts and as Ezra Hinchliffe converted the referee blew for full time.

Heath are now four points behind the leaders with five games left to play.

Heath’s seconds also played away at Salem, winning 22-18.