Harlow 19 Ipswich 18

London League Division 3

In a tight game on Saturday Harlow edged out Ipswich who were in second place and hoping for the promotion play off slot.  The score does not tell the full story; Harlow attacked hard right from the start and had a safe lead for most of the game. Two tries by the visitors near the close gave them a chance of stealing but the Rams held on for an important win. The last home game of the season produced a big turnout of supporters and the consensus was that from Harlow this was one of the most committed displays of the season. To add insult to injury Diss beat league leaders Eton Manor on Saturday and go second, which means that if Ipswich are to get the second place play off slot they must win their last game and rely on Diss losing.

Harlow started their first half well taking play into the Ipswich 22 and attacking with a good rolling maul from the lineout.  The visitors kept them out but only by killing the ball. Eynon asked for a kick to the corner and again they attacked from the lineout. Several phases of forward play came close before Harlow moved the ball out to the backs. This time the penalty was for offside by a defender and Harlow fly half Nick Ford slotted a safe penalty from in from to the posts for a 3 - 0 lead. The kick off allowed Ipswich to get in to Harlow territory and try to launch their backs but the home defence was solid. A penalty to Ipswich allowed them to level the score at 3 all. Following the re-start Harlow had several good attacking chances moving the ball wide to the wing but a combination of a strong wind and lack of passing accuracy prevented the score. Harlow re-took the lead with a great penalty kick from Nick Ford making prefect adjustment for the crosswind from his 10 metre line. Harlow continued to dominate the territory and Ford added another penalty to make the score 9 – 3 at half time.

The Rams re-started strongly and playing against the slope took play into the Ipswich half.  Given a penalty they opted to kick to the corner, Grover took the throw cleanly and they set the rolling maul. As the ball went to ground scrum half Lee Harron grabbed it and burrowed through for the touchdown. Ford, kicking into the wind was just short with the kick. A penalty allowed Ipswich to close the gap and then Simon Vanbeck, with eleven league tries already to his credit, produced possibly his best yet. Ipswich kicked wide to the right hand corner for the backs to run on but Vanbeck beat them to the catch and set out on a 70 yard run using his pace to beat the two chasers and then brushing off another defender hear half way. As he approached the try line he had skipper Paul Eynon on the inside. He hesitated as if to pass and the final defender hesitated just long enough for him to break though for the try. With a 19 - 6 lead the game looked to be won. Harlow had another period of very good attacking drives by the forwards. For nearly ten minutes they pressed on the line. Once when they moved it to the backs Stradling crossed the line only  to be brought back for an earlier forward pass for which the referee had been playing advantage. Eventually Ipswich cleared and Harlow conceded a penalty which allowed them to launch a try scoring attack making it 19 -13. Harlow got into the visitors half again and Ford was just wide with a drop goal attempt before another Ipswich breakout gave them a second try and cut the margin to one point. Harlow held on for the final three minutes and a great victory.

Tries: Simon Vanbeck, Lee Harron

Penalties: Nick Ford (3)

(Follow links to player profiles)
1. Gary Brown (Sub James Ephgrave)
2. Martin Mallia (Sub Tommy Johnson)

3. Paul Prindiville

4. James Grover

5. Paul Scott

6. Scott Romaine

7. Mark Pickett
8. Paul Eynon (Captain)

9. Lee Harron
10. Nick Ford
11. Simon Vanbeck

12. David Stradling (Sub Gary Stanley)

13. Wayne Morgan

14. Matt Howard

15. James McFerran

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The above picture was taken from a helicopter just after half time.