HEATH’S promising rugby union youngsters in the end proved no match for Dinnington on a cold day in Sheffield, eventually going down 36-12 after a brave first-half performance.
As the date was previously a ‘free’ weekend, many of the regular first-team players were unavailable, which left the North Dean outfit having to fill in with several of their Colts, and although they were quicker and more skilful, in the end the size of Dinnington’s pack began to tell and they ran away with the contest in the closing stages.
A couple of early penalties gave the home side a 6-0 lead, and it needed the experience of Ian Downsborough, Mark Puttick and Ollie Wilby to settle down the young visitors, and on 24 minutes were rewarded when Downsborough went over for the game’s opening try.
Heath were struggling in the scrums against a much bigger pack, but when they did get the ball out to the backs, Dinnington were being given the run-around, and they only just managed to snuff out a second try, this time from Brobbey, who ran almost the full length of the park before being tackled just short.
A third penalty for the home side enabled them to increase their lead to 9-5 at half time, while Charlie Lomas and Pete Birkett came close to scoring for Heath.
The visitors got away to the worst possible start to the second half, when Gary Pidgeon was injured and Dinnington scored a try from a line-out two minutes after the re-start.
The try was converted and eight minutes later they were over again, this time with a push-over try as Dinnington’s pack began to take command.
Another penalty pushed the home side out to 24-5, and on the hour mark Dinnington’s constant pressure brought another score, and by now the game was gone.
Heath did respond when Downsborough set off on a run, and following support from Hinchliffe, Lomas went over for a converted try.
And they continued to work hard, but were further hampered by the sin-binning of Sheldrake, which left them having to play the final 10 minutes with 14 men.
Dinnington piled on the pressure and despite Heath’s efforts, they couldn’t prevent a final try, which gave Dinnington an added bonus point with a minute remaining.
