With two wins and a draw (away to Harrogate), Heath would have made the journey from Halifax in expectation rather than hope. Scunthorpe, however, benefitted from the return to their ranks of Nick and James Dyson, Cam Chrisiter and Jordan Beresford.
The home side seized the initiative in the early exchanges and a speedy Will Robinson break enabled Nick Dyson to open the scoring. A trademark Nick Dyson pick and go through a ‘ruck’ fed James Dyson who cut through the visitors’ defence and fed Lewis Talbot who forced himself over by the corner flag to score the second try. Both were converted by Connor Brewster.
Although surprised Heath hit back with some powerful attacks, forcing a penalty that Chris Johnson converted. Another sustained Scunthorpe attack ended with the ever dynamic Will Harrison, taking a quick penalty and darting through to score a third Scunthorpe touch down.
With a quarter of the game gone Heath began to show the power of their big forwards and the skill of their backs which earned their place near the top of our league. First came a try by centre Ezra Hinchcliffe, then a forward drive saw second row Saif Boussaaba touchdown. Next a sweeping series of moves put winger Elliot Spiers over. All were converted by Chris Johnson to give the visitors a 19-24 lead.
Having taken the lead Heath seemed to ‘take their foot off the pedal’ or the Greens upped their game. A Scunthorpe catch and drive forced a yellow card infringement by Heath’s flanker Ian Downsborough and further Green attacks, initiated by Lewis Talbot and Josh Lugsdon running back a Heath clearance kick, led to Nick Dyson finishing the move with his second try, again converted by Connor Brewster to give a half time score of 26-24.
The second half saw no score for 20 minutes. The play was end to end, skilful and committed and a credit to the standard of Regional One rugby. But unlike the first half the defences got the better of the exchanges. Following the example of the crunching tackles by their captain Grant Elliot, the Green defence was disciplined and robust.
The deadlock was broken when Nick Dyson again burst over the visitor’s line to complete his hat trick.
Heath roared back into the attack and scored through replacement John Malthouse converted by Chris Johnson.
The last ten minutes gave the supporters thrills and palpitations but only one more Connor Brewster penalty moved the scoreboard, to make the final score 36-31.
Player availability, that old drag to Scunthorpe ambition seems to be easing. It helps that we have built a bigger squad. Hard work of players and coaches has produced this performance-the best so far this season.
MoM Simon Fisher.