Thatto Heath 27 Rose Bridge 4 HEATH kept their NWCL Premier Championship challenge on track with this emphatic win over Rose Bridge.

But the Wiganers took the lead after six minutes when scrum-half Wes Else slotted over a one-pointer.

Rose Bridge' were very much on top in the first 15 minutes but Heath's defence was solid with props Martin Horton and Phil Southward and second row Darren Blanchfield particularly prominent.

Barry Ashall looked to relieve some of this pressure with a deep kick towards the left hand touch from within his own 25. Winger Mike Woods read his intentions well and set off after the kick but was jut beaten to the ball by Bridge's full-back but Woods forced him to put the ball out on the 25.

From the resultant scrum, a neat move saw Woods come in off the wing and ghost through only to be pulled down five yards out. Centre Jamie Hill seized his chance quickly from this play-the-ball by dummying the defence and diving over to score Heath's first try. Full-back Wayne Jackman converted.

Heath then, uncharacteristically, displayed some indiscipline allowing Bridge the full length of the field with a string of silly penalties, the final one for holding down at the play-the-ball giving winger, Geoff Eckesley, an easy shot at goal which he duly accepted.

On 38 minutes, Bridge looked to be on the attack but a penalty kick for touch found right wingman, Neil Prescott instead deep in his own 25. Prescott took the ball back to the Wiganers beating three men before releasing Hill who when finally pulled down on Bridge's 25 won a penalty for holding down. Heath elected to take the tap and drove the ball towards the posts. Then following a well worked set piece, captain Martin Horton crossed the chalk with ease just left of the posts. Jackman converted.

From the restart Bridge's second row split the defence only to be stopped in his tracks by another fine try-saving tackle by Jackman. Following this break, Bridge looked certain to score in the right hand corner but their right-centre fumbled the ball with the line beckoning.

Heath took the ball back up field and in the final minute of the half were awarded a penalty which Jackman kicked to make the half-time score 14-3.

Ashall was on the scoresheet within minutes of the restart with a well taken drop goal and four minutes later Jackman kicked another penalty.

Jackman then eased some of the pressure that followed from Bridge taking an high up-and-under on his own line and running the ball out of his 25 beating three men in doing so.

Fifteen minutes into the second half Ashall scored a fine solo try running across the line to the right touch then selling a dummy to the wing to score in the corner from 30 yards out. The conversion fell short.

On 66 minutes both number sixes, Ashall and ex-pro Frank Cassidy, were sent off.

Phil Southward topped off a fine personal performance with a well deserved try. After receiving the ball at first man 15 yards out, he first dummied and then powered his way over the line just left of the posts leaving three men in his wake and carrying a further two more over with him. Jackman converted to make the final score 27-3.

Heath's man of the match, sponsored by Lea Green Fencing, went to Jackman followed by Woods and Southward.

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