Heath edged out

HEATH were just edged out in their National Conference League Premier opener against newly-promoted Wigan St Judes.

Both sides started well with defences on top up until the 11th minute when burly Heath prop Dave Smith stood out of the scrum 20 metres out to take a crash ball in the centre of the field and shrugged off two would-be tacklers to score to the left of the posts. Full-back Mike Woods converted.

Minutes later Heath crossed again following a lucky break. A poor Heath up-an-under on the half-way found its way into the hands of Woods who set off down the right wing. With only the last line of defence to beat 30 metres out, he chipped through. Second-row Dave Lloyd hacked the ball towards the in-goal area and speedy right-wingman Shaun McKeegan outpaced the rest to touch down out wide to put Heath 10-0 up.

The game was pretty much stalemate for the next 20 minutes with both defences covering well up until the last five minutes of the half when Wigan centre Scott Corfield sidestepped his way over from 10 metres out. Stand-off John McMullen converted to put Judes back in the game at half time with the score 10-6.

From the restart Heath were straight on the attack with loose-forward Jamie Hill making a 30-metre beak down the centre of the park. Judes scrum-half Nicky Lyons was then shown the yellow card for holding down in the tackle to give Woods a straightforward penalty conversion from 30 metres out.

Heath looked to take control of the game four minutes later when a break down the middle on halfway, involving hooker Ian Honey, Lloyd and scrum-half Dave Scott in a fine inter-changing passing movement, saw the latter cross under the posts. Woods added the extras.

Despite being a man down, St Judes piled on the pressure and this pressure told when loose-forward Carl Jones pushed off two defenders to score from 10 metres out. McMullen slotted over the conversion.

Heath were now finding it hard to get out of their own half and only a well-anticipated interception by Scott five metres from his ownline saved a certain try.

Midway through the half though the turning point came when a grubber kick through to the lefthand corner deceived Heath's defence and the St Judes full back pounced on the ball in the corner. McMullen kicked the touchline conversion to level the scores.

On 70 minutes a break down the right wing by the visitors' hooker Shaun Hilton and a quick play-the-ball gave them a three-man overlap and presented Scott Corfield with his second and match-winning try.

Heath tried to stage a late rally but their best efforts were thwarted by the final pass going astray.

Jamie Hill was Heath's best on the day, with Dave Smith also having a fine game.

This week Heath travel to Leigh East, kick-off 2.30pm.