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Harlow 1st XV 21 Bishops Stortford 35 Powergen Intermediate Cup To read the Bishops Stortford Report - click here Harlow were faced with a cup tie against a side that plays two divisions higher. It would be easy to argue about what might have been but being realistic the Rams can take some satisfaction from the game. They put in three good tries and had a fourth disallowed on a very close call. McFerran slotted three conversions from three attempts and the forwards performed well particularly with the rolling maul often starting from very good lineout possession.
Before the kick off the teams observed a minutes silence as a tribute to Ron Bracewell, a founder member and former president of the club who died the previous Sunday.The game started at a fearsome pace with the home side playing up hill. The Harlow backs made a couple of early breaks but the Stortford defensive line was very tight and it was clear that there would be no easy way through. The visitors showed their hand early on when their backs moved the ball quickly wide to expose a gap in the Harlow defence. The switched back inside and managed to cut round the last defender for a try under the posts, converted for a 7 point lead. Soon after they attacked again and split the defence extending their lead to 12 points. As the game progressed Harlow added to their own problems, first by a lack of concentrations allowing the Stortford scrum half to take a quick penalty close to the try line and dart in for an unopposed try. A delayed clearance kick by Harlow towards the end of the half was charged down giving the visitors a fourth try which with the conversions and a penalty took them to a 29 – 0 lead. In the closing minutes Harlow rallied and set up a lineout deep in the Stortford 22 with a well placed penalty. From the throw they set a rolling maul going close to the try line before moving is in for Vanbeck to come off his wing and take the ball in for the try. McFerran's boot made it 29 – 7 to the visitors at half time.
Harlow realized that they were not going to outpace the visitors in the backs and during the interval skipper Eynon called for much tighter strategy based on the pack. The strategy worked well with Harlow working the touchline effectively and having much more of the territory. The rolling maul was their main attacking strategy and from one of these Tommy Johnson bored through to score the first try. Stortford managed to block two similar attacks bur eventually had a player yellow carded for collapsing the maul. Stortford extended their lead with another penalty before Harlow again mauled to the try line. Again Tommy Johnson got the ball down but the referee decided that the maul had been collapsed and awarded the penalty try giving McFerran the safer kick from in front of the posts taking the score to 32 – 21 in favour of the visitors. The pressure that Harlow were applying was clear when Stortford were awarded a penalty well into the Harlow 22 and immediately opted for the three points rather than setting up and attacking move. Having used all their replacements an injury to Billy Stanley meant that Harlow played the last quarter with 14 men but still managed another rolling maul with took them to the tryline but this time they were adjudge to have grounded the ball just short.
Tries. Vanbeck, Johnson, Penalty Try Conversions: McFerran (3) Next Saturday Harlow are at home to Eton Manor in the League. Manor have two wins so far and are in top place on points difference with Harlow lying second. It is very difficult this early in the season to assess the real worth of games won because the true strength of defeated opponents will only be known when more games have been played. The result on Saturday will however be critical in deciding who is going to be the early front runners in the division. The game kicks off at 3pm and local support would be very welcome.
(Follow links to player profiles) 3. Paul Prindiville (Sub Will Bayford) 5. James Grover 12. Rhys Loveday (Sub David Stradling) 15. James McFerran
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