Thurrock 2nd XV 38 Harlow 2nd XV 12

Merit Table

A patched up Harlow side performed admirably against last seasons league winners Thurrock, soft tries conceded at the beginning and end of the game flattering the hosts.

The game started fiercely with Thurrock taking control from the off using their much bigger pack to their advantage using the rolling maul to good effect to gain territory and maintain possession only good tackling keeping them out.  Rivalry is always fierce between the two sides which was clearly evident when within the first 5 minutes a vicious late tackle from Thurrock’s prop meant that Harlow fly- half Ian Bate having to come off injured.  A quick re shuffle saw flanker Gareth Summers slot in at inside centre it was during this moment of disruption that Thurrock scored their first two tries.  One a good move from Thurrock’s winger who came in off of his wing to score and the other a simple forwards move that broke through Harlow’s defensive line to race into a 14-0 lead.

Harlow then started to slowly work their way back into the game putting Thurrock under pressure for much of the remaining 20 minutes of the half.  The forwards punching above their weight performed superbly, a vast improvement from last week, keeping possession and crashing the ball up close to the breakdowns to march slowly into Thurrock’s half.  Harlow had many half chances in the first half good breaks from Cochrane, Ward and King all coming close to scoring.  It was in the final minutes of the first half that Harlow got the score they deserved.  A good penalty kick from Rundall left Harlow about 10 metres out from Thurrock’s try line.  An excellent lineout set up a rolling maul that Thurrock collapsed to give concede a penalty.  A quick tap from Matt King saw him break through two players to score the half time score 14-5.

Harlow started how they left off in the first half keeping hold of possession and exerting their influence on the game again a quick hands from the backs let Ward loose who chipped the ball over his opposite number taking him close to scoring.  A quick counter attack from Thurrock saw them score against the run of play 21-5. 

From the kick off Thurrock’s scrum half panicked with the ball and kicked it deep into Harlow’s half where Steve McClarnon made a quick break and run across the pitch to come within metres of scoring where a Thurrock player dived over the top of the resulting ruck.  A quick tap penalty from Guthrie saw him pass the ball through to release Clarke who was held up from the line.   From the scrum the ball was passed to Rundall who spotted Westbrook’s angled run from full back and give him the ball to score under the post’s for Harlow’s second try.  The conversion was kicked by Rundall to make the score 21-12.

Again Thurrock showed a good moment of opportunism where a spilled pass was quickly snatched up by their outside centre for a simple score 28-12. 

By this time with about 5 minutes remaining Harlow uncharacteristically started to tire and two quick tries from Thurrock saw them extend their lead 38-12 to give the scoreline a somewhat exaggerated look. 

Although Harlow lost this game the team performance was a vast improvement from last week with the Harlow forwards protecting the ball and defending superbly around the fringes of the breakdowns.  If they keep playing like this and players return from injury then they can be confident to bounce back to winning ways next week.

Tries: Matt King, Peter Westbrook. 

Conversion: Ian Rundall

Team (follow links to player profiles):  Martin Clarke, Richard Snell (Capt), Gary Brown, Darran Hawkins, Robert Cochrane, Martin Edwards, Gareth Summers, Andrew Quinn, Matt King, Ian Bate, (Sub Paul Twilly), Steven McClarnon, Mark Guthrie, Ian Rundall, Steve Ward, Peter Westbrook

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