GOOD defence in the first few minutes kept the hosts at bay before Heath started to press.

Greg Mannion took the ball in hard down the left before it was spread across the line.

Andy Stott missed a man out finding Shaun Quinn on the burst. He beat one, took it on 20 metres and then found Mark Beech on his inside to score. Stott's conversion made it 6-0.

The home side grew in confidence with McAtee scoring under the sticks.

A powerful drive from the impressive Glenn Holland set up Jason Mitchell.

He gave it to Stott and again Quinn who sent Mike Woods clear on the left. He chipped over only to see the ball run dead.

The lead was regained three minutes after the restart. Big hitting forced an Eccles knock on.

The forwards drove the ball in hard and when it was spread left Glenn Holland came on the burst and was stopped inches short.

From the play the ball Jason Mitchell burrowed his way through three defenders to score a converted try.

Quinn then went close after again linking up with Stott out wide before some poor tackling let Eccles in again. Crucially the kick was missed leaving Heath clinging to a slender lead.

It was Jason Mitchell's probing run from dummy half that set up the clinching try.

The play was taken on by Geoff Williams and Martin Shea before again it was Stott's wide ball which put Dave Johnson around his man. His pass put David Bates in at the corner. Agonisingly Stott's kick hit the upright and bounced out leaving a nail biting finish.

Stott and Quinn combined well for Heath all day but the whole package was given energy and verve by Jason Mitchell.

The Hattons Solicitors Man of the Match award went to Andrew Stott. This week Thatto host East Leeds at home for a 2:30pm kick off at Liverpool St Helens RUFC.