In glorious conditions at Woodhead a large crowd gathered to watch the match of the day in North One East. Both sides have been competing at the top end of the league for the whole season however Brods form has faltered since the turn of the year and indeed Heath have also lost some ground over the last two weeks. Currently 4th in the table the Heathens could still achieve promotion if results go their way however for the Brods the incentive is simple , local pride , bragging rights and of course the Dave Littlefair trophy.

The game started with Heath playing down the slope however a breeze from the East is always a leveller and heath missed an early opportunity to score from a penalty goal attempt. Brods played their way back up-field , were awarded a penalty in centre field which Phil Town kicked to the corner and a lineout opportunity. Brods well-rehearsed lineout took the ball and drove strongly towards the Heath line , when the ball was released Jimmy Hodkinson fed Matty Briggs whose step and pace left the Heath defence flat footed as he dived over the line between the posts . The teenage fly half was making his home debut for the first XV and his performance throughout the afternoon repaid the faith shown by the coaching teams selection . Town converted to give Brods an early 7 point lead after 9 minutes play. Heath responded well and took the game back to their hosts with some good forward interplay putting pressure on the Brods line and from a resulting scrummage and drive crossed to score wide on the left but with the missed conversion Brods still held the lead 7-5 . The West Vale boys however quickly added to their score when Callum Harriet Brown ran strongly down the left from within his own half , the pacy winger avoided several attempted tackles and finished well wide on the left . with the conversion heath held the lead 12-7

The game continued at a pace as both sides enjoyed the excellent conditions and as Brods were dominating possession in midfield an intentional knock on by a Heath defender gave Town the opportunity for 3 points from the 10 meter line . Town struck the ball well and converted Brods 10 heath 12. A further indiscretion by Heath provided Town with a further opportunity with a penalty from just inside the half and Town again struck the ball superbly to give Brods the13-12.

Brods continued to dominate possession and territory . The front row of Alex Dawson ,Cole Wilson and Elliot Craven were working hard with ball in hand and a further penalty was conceded by the Heath defenders as they tried to slow the game down ,. Jonny Cole received a yellow card and from the resulting penalty Phil Town once more stepped up to take the 3 points on offer. 16-12 to Brods at half time .

A keenly contested game was living up to the expectation of the large crowd and from the start of the second half Brods immediately went close to extending their lead . Jason Dodd took a high ball on half way and evaded several tackles as he ran strongly to the posts .a last man tackle stopped a try and from the resulting restart Brods were awarded another penalty which town converted from under the posts 19-12.Brods were on fire with the forwards dominating the exchanges , Bob Sykes was outstanding and when the ball was turned over in midfield Jimmy Hodkinson hoisted a high , speculative kick into the Heath 22 , the ball was chased down by another teenager on debut , George Gillgrass timed his run to perfection to take the ball from under the nose of the Heath defence and ran clear to score on the right. Town converted again to give Brods a 26-12 lead .

The game continued to be played at good pace and Callum Harriet Brown once more crossed the Brods line in the left hand corner however the ball was not grounded and Brods cleared their lines

Heath now stepped up in familiar fashion as they pressed the Brods line and put the home team under intense pressure .Brods defended well with the back row of Hoyle , Wroot and another teenager on home debut Louis Inman working overtime . Yet heath were relentless and patient in building the pressure. the onslaught continued as Heath got into rhythm and were rewarded when Callum Harriet Brown tormented the Brods defenders with a weaving run to the line, the ball was kept alive and after some good interpassing Heath scored just to the left of the posts. With the clock ticking towards full time and the score 26-19 all the pressure was now on the Brods line and the defence held until the repeated short drives were rewarded with a try to heath and the conversion to level the scores and the final whistle .

A good advert for the game , the teams have met three times this season with one win to each side and the draw. Heath may well have the chance of promotion depending on results over the next three weeks . Brods will be frustrated at a game they should have won however can be pleased at the renewed enthusiasm and the performances of their teenage debutants in an enthralling and high pressure derby.