HEATH END SCARBOROUGH’S UNBEATEN HOME RECORD WITH 26-17 WIN AT SILVER ROYD

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SCARBOROUGH DEFEND A SCRUM ON HALF WAY

SCARBOROUGH 17 HEATH 26

By Dave Campbell

Scarborough lost for the first this season at Silver Royd following a full blooded Yorkshire One clash played in a great spirit with the outcome in doubt to the very end.

With Heath unbeaten on the road and the Seasiders having a 100% home record, something had to give. And the home side started with a distinct disadvantage losing Phil Stewart, injured in the warm-up and Harry Domett a late withdrawal with flu. Centre Tom Ratcliffe moved to ten for Stewart and Paul White played in the centre.

Heath raced away for a try by Kiwi centre Jordan Bradbrook in the first minute of the game and led until Ratcliffe went over for a try he converted himself to level the scores at 7-7 in the 17th minute. With their pack dominating, further tries for the visitors in the 21st and 39th minutes saw them pull away at 19-7 before a try from Scarborough’s Billy Parker converted by Ratcliffe cut the lead to 19-14 at the break.

In an attritional second half an improved home side cut the lead to 19-17 with a Ratcliffe penalty in the 44th minute.

Scarborough turned the screw but a solid Heath defence held firm in the face of a third quarter onslaught. Jack Anderson should have clinched the game wide on the left with a couple minutes to go but the Scarborough wing was bundled into touch at the corner flag. A penalty took the visitors up field and they snatched a late try to put the issue beyond doubt when Bradbrook went over for his third of the game and a 26-17 win. Centre Ezra Hinchliffe kicked three conversions for the visitors.

With Tom Harrison, who has had a great 2017, sidelined by injury and his replacement injured in the warm-up, the Seasiders have lost some fluidity and movement in the backs and the underrated Tom Ratcliffe was missed in the centre; Harry Domett’s drive and beef was also missed against a very physical but fair Heath side. However the entire squad grafted tirelessly for the whole eighty minutes and given the spirit of the group and further injury not withstanding, will I’m sure bounce back.

A VIEW OF THE ACTION FROM THE STAND AT SILVER ROYD

READ MY FULL REPORT AND PICTURES FROM ANDY STANDING IN THURSDAY’S SCARBOROUGH NEWS