Heath hang on for victory

They controlled play in the first half and put the visitors under constant pressure but Hullensians had the upper hand in the second as the North Dean men gave away too many penalties.

Heath had the perfect start when, from the visitors’ kick off, the ball went to full back Sam Pollard who sent it straight back.

His run and charge down saw a race for the try line and Cameron Ramsden was on hand to touch down. Ezra Hinchliffe converted.

Following the previous week’s mauling in the Shield, Heath had put in a lot of work in training and it showed but the visitors hit back with an unconverted try from Harry Newton on 18 minutes.

From the restart Hamish Pratt released Pollard, who went on another charge before releasing Stephen Hare and Jack Sheldrake. The move broke down but on 21 minutes Pollard chipped through and scooped up the ball to go over in the corner for Heath’s second try and a 12-5 lead.

Another try looked likely when Pratt released centre Sheldrake but the ball was dropped in the wet conditions.

Dom Walsh, Ramsden and Hare linked to release Mick Gleeson as Hullensians were kept under the cosh and on 28 minutes Hinchliffe increased the lead to 15-5 with a penalty.

The home crowd were eager for more of the same in the second half and the heavy rain had relented.

However, Hullensians had re-grouped and put pressure on the home defence, who give away seven penalties in the space of 10 minutes. From the first, Tom Biglin slotted over to make it 15-8 on 51 minutes.

Hinchliffe replied in kind and but only a try-saving tackle from Alex McFadden prevented a Hullensians score on 60 minutes.

Darren Neilly, Mark Puttick and Walsh stood firm as the visitors tried to press home their advantage.

A huge clearance from Gleeson, followed by a superb punt to touch by Hinchliffe, put Heath were in the visitors’ 22 but Hullensians kicked a 75th-minute penalty to gain a losing bonus point.