Thatto Heath 13 Farnworth 10 THATTO Heath claimed their second piece of silverware within four days at Blackbrook on Saturday.

Following the A team's midweek success in the NWC Division Six B play off, the first team clinched the Premier Division Championship trophy - for the seventh time - in similar fashion, against Farnworth.

Heath's powerful pack eventually paved the way for this tense three-point victory. Prop forward and skipper, Martin Horton proved a real handful for the Widnes-based outfit with his strong running and powerful defence and was well supported by fellow prop Dave Mitchell and back row man Darren Blanchfield and Jimmy Waterworth. Centre Jamie Hill was the try-scoring hero in the back division with two crucial touchdowns, while full-back Wayne Jackman also distinguished himself on several occasions under high kicks to relieve pressure on the Heath line. Farnworth had key performers also in hooker Phil Clarke, prop forward Doug Davis and substitute Steve Grady.

The game turned during a crucial four-minute spell immediately after the break that the visitors will want to forget. Farnworth were holding a two point lead on the restart when Heath exposed the flimsy cover on the visitors' right flank to grab two quick tries and turn a 4-6 deficit into a 12-6 advantage.

However, in a see-saw finale Farnworth still had several chances to seal the game, not least a promising second half midfield break by stand-off Chris Smart that lacked immediate support when a try looked imminent. And again in the dying minutes when the visitors chose the wrong option at a play the ball out wide on the left flank and passed the ball backwards, when they had a clear passage to the corner on the outside.

Defences were clearly on top during the opening 20, but that suddenly changed two minutes later, when Heath launched an attack down the left flank and centre Jamie Hill broke the deadlock with an unconverted try.

Defences continued to dominate again after the restart and try-scoring chances were rare. But that all changed on 36 minutes however, when Gary Wright forced his way over from close range. Ian Fozzard put Farnworth 6-4 ahead at the interval with the conversion. Farnworth were sitting uneasily on this narrow two-point lead immediately after the break when Heath struck a purple patch and quickly gained the initiative with unconverted tries by Jamie Hill and Wayne Jackman to lead 12-6.

Midway through the second half Barry Ashall edged Heath further ahead with a fine 40-metre drop goal.

But any thoughts of an easy afternoon were quickly dispelled as Farnworth came back breathing fire in the closing stages. Hooker Phil Clarke set alarm bells ringing with a fine try near the posts on 77 minutes. However, the easy conversion attempt drifted the wrong side of the near post, and Heath were able to hang on tenaciously to a three-point lead until the final whistle.

Haydock A 18

Thatto Heath A 21

Haydock A and Thatto Heath A showed that the NWC Division Six B championship trophy was well worth fighting for. The two free-scoring front runners provided a sizeable crowd at Boardmans Lane with a feast of good football, that brought them four tries apiece - several near misses, tremendous tackling, crucial defensive errors under pressure and, just to keep things on the boil - the occasional debatable decision.

Heath had better of the opening exchanges and quick handling by Barry Ford and Mark Hayton stretched the cover on the Haydock's right flank for winger Phil Glover to score near the corner on six minutes. Ford added a fine angled conversion.

But Heath's joy was short-lived as Haydock hit back with a vengeance two minutes later with a fine opportunist try by Craig Haughey. The Haydock number six beat the defence with a delightful 'chip' over the top and collected a favourable bounce to score beneath the posts. Neil Chisnall added the conversion.

The pendulum swung Heaths way again on 25 minutes when crisp handling across to the left flank, enabled wingman Phil Glover to give Heath a four point cushion with his second try of the game. But the game was back on a knife's edge at 10 all five minutes later, Craig Haughey hoisted a 'bomb' across Heath's posts which the defence failed to defuse. And full back Graham Lybert was on hand to get the vital touchdown for Haydock just inches from the dead ball line.

A 12-tackle sequence severely tested the Haydock defence, which proved equal to the task. On the run up to the interval only for a short grubber kick from Barry Ford to rebound off a defender to leave the Heath scrum-half with a simple opportunity to put Heath 16-10 ahead on the stroke of half time with a converted try.

Thatto Heath edged into a seven-point lead on 53 minutes with a Barry Ford drop goal, but centre Dave Owen kept Haydock in contention at 14-17 with an unconverted try minutes later.

Heath gained valuable breathing space again on the hour, when centre Mark Hayton burst through an attempted tackle close to the line to grab their fourth try.

But once again Haydock showed tremendous character to close the gap again within five minutes of the restart, with a well-deserved try by hooker Matt Reynolds.

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