Heath Hang on to Go Clear at the Top

By: Graham Henthorne

Thatto Heath Crusaders 30 v 24 Saddleworth Rangers

This would have been a much more understandable result had there been a howling gale blowing down the pitch. As it was the benign conditions can’t be blamed for the bizarre change in fortunes after the break. Even the players themselves probably won’t be able to shed any light on the matter.

Heath started like the table toppers they are, punishing a poor knock on from the Rangers full back in front of his own posts. From the scrum Hully handed off his opposite number to stroll around behind the posts.

Good pressure without the ball was keeping Rangers penned into their own half and when Heath got the ball they kept up the pressure. A good set from Heath ended with Stotty putting up a bomb for Daz to pluck out of the air above the usual hapless winger.

The only worry posed by the visitors in the first half was by the deceptively pacy right winger. Firstly he bounced outside a Johnny Hughes tackle and outpaced the defence over 60 metres only to see his inside ball spilled and then was unceremoniously bundled into touch by Stotty saving a certain try.

Heath pulled away in the final ten minutes of the half. Woodsy picked up a loose ball on his own 10 and rounded the defensive line. On reaching the full back he passed inside to Johnny Hughes who was finally hauled down 5 metres short. From the play the ball Daz reached out for his second try.

On the stroke of half time Froddy picked up on his own 40, spotted a gap and shot through the line. On reaching the corner he ducked under the covering tacklers cutting back inside to score.

With the strains of “lets nil ’em” and “keep hold of the ball” ringing in their ears, Heath came out after the break and knocked on from the kick off and conceded a soft try from the resulting set.

When the strong Rangers sub went over 5 minutes later Heath found themselves in a dog fight of their own making.

They regained a modicum of composure and took the game away from the visitors with two tries in five minutes on the hour. After good drives from Batesy and Froddy, Maddocks expertly spotted the retreating Saddleworth defender and darted straight at him from dummy half diving over in the corner. The game breaker was Froddy’s second diving under the defence after a great offload from Legger.

The foot was again taken off the gas, however, and back came the visitors with two converted tries in the final ten minutes leaving Heath in an undignified scramble at the finish.

Froddy was back to his best along with the mercurial Woodsy but the performance was built on the pack led by the Legger and his fellow methane twin Trumper.

The Hattons Solicitors Man of the Match Award went to Mick Ledger while Chris Frodsham picked up the Spectators Award.

More pictures to follow.

 

Thatto Heath Crusaders

4 Mike Woods

5 Adam Walsh

1 Dave Hull

3 Johnny Hughes

2 Darren Woods

6 Andy Stott

9 Chris Frodsham

8 Mick Ledger

7 Jimmy Hitchmough

10 Martin Shea

11 Alex Trumper

12 James Clark

13 Barry McGilvray

14 Kieron Maddocks

15 Mark Beech

16 David Bates

17 Ste Ward

 

Saddleworth Rangers

1 Shaun Robinson

2 Adam Jeffrey

3 James Whalley

4 Tom Lever

5 Marlon Miller

6 Michael Coates

7 Grant Bithell

8 Carl Field

9 Liam Coates

10 Matt Bottom

11 Jack Brennan

12 Jimmy Rogers

13 Adam Walker

14 Danny Adams

15 Liam Hall

16 Danny Early

17 Gareth Morgan

 

Thatto Heath Crusaders:

 

Tries : Darren Woods 2, Dave Hull, Chris Frodsham 2, Kieron Maddocks.

Goals : Mike Woods 3.

Drop Goals :.

 

Saddleworth Rangers:

 

Tries : Marlon Miller, Grant Bithell, Danny Adams 2.

Goals : Michael Coates 4.

Drop Goals :.

 

 

Half Time : Thatto Heath Crusaders 20

Saddleworth Rangers 0

 

Full Time : Thatto Heath Crusaders 30

Saddleworth Rangers 24

 

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