On Saturday we were at home playing our seventh game of the season against Heath Rugby Club from Halifax. This was the first time that we had played them as they were newly promoted last season when we were in National One. They were lying eight in the league with two wins and four losses. However they had played against the top teams and the results were close with Heath putting up some good scores. We were again looking to put in a good performance and maintain the unbeaten run. We had prepared well in training and conditions on the day were excellent with a dry firm pitch and a slight wind. Heath had elected to play towards the clubhouse and early pressure from them resulted in a penalty which their experienced player coach Chris Johnson converted to give them an early three point lead. However the response from the Tigers was immediate with a well taken try for hooker Luke Cole who crashed over near the posts after a patient build up of phases from the forwards in their twenty two. Centre Oli Glasse converted and we were back in the lead 7-3 after six minutes. Our set piece line out was accurate and our scrum was solid which gave us the platform to control the game and play in their half when we had possession. A line out on their goal line ended with flanker Alex Minozzi cleverly outwit their defence and touch down for our second try and extend the lead to 12-3 with most of the half to go. We continued to stretch the visitors defence every time we had the ball but in fairness to Heath they tackled everything that we threw at them and forced us into inaccurate errors which was frustrating for the next twenty minutes. A goal line drop out by them was gathered by winger Sampson Shute who broke through three tackles. The ball was moved wide left to prop Beltus Nonleh who broke down the left wing and fed flanker Jack Ellam who scored under the posts. Oli added the conversion and we went into the half time break with a 19-3 lead. We were pleased with the lead but knew that if we had been a bit more accurate in our execution that it would have been a lot more.
We started the second half strongly with territory and possession deep in their twenty two. A lovely interplay between backs and forwards was finished off with a second try for hooker Luke Cole who spun off two tackles and touch down under the posts. Oli added the conversion and we had a commanding 26-3 lead with all of the half to go and the bonus point secured. However Heath to their credit continued to take the game to us and did break through on a number of occasions but could not get over the line as the home side’s defence held firm as we were determined not to let them score. In the seventy ninth minute an attacking play in their twenty two saw the ball moved quickly across the backline which was finished off by centre Joe Bedlow who went over in the top right hand corner. Oli added the difficult touch line conversion and we were 33-3 up with just minutes to go. Then with possibly the last play of the game, Heath looked to run the ball from forty metres out but a wide pass was intercepted by Tigers winger Tom Hesketh who sprinted in from the half way line and touch down under the posts to give us our sixth score of the afternoon. The game ended 40-3 to the home team, another bonus point win and the unbeaten run continues. Tight head prop Beltus Nonleh was voted man of the match for his wonderful efforts always putting us on the front foot but credit to the whole squad for another winning performance. We now have a week off before we go again on the 31st October with a difficult away game against local rivals Preston Grasshoppers. They have had an excellent season so far with five wins and are currently fourth in the league so this is going to be one of our biggest tests so far. We hope to get a lot of support on the day so please make the effort and come and support this special Tigers team.
Cheers, Steve Hazz.
