Harlow 26 Rochford 19

London League Division 3

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Stung by their loss against lowly Sudbury last Saturday, Harlow reversed their fortunes by beating visitors Rochford at Ram Gorse on Saturday.

Injuries to six Harlow squad members forced changes but the replacements slotted in well and Harlow looked a different side to that which had succumbed to the Suffolk side last week.

Jon Snow came into the forwards in place of injured Skipper Paul Eynon and shone in the loose. Ben Jarvis moved back to his favoured position at fly half and Phil Ellis, Harlow’s recent signing played at inside centre and was involved in many of the Harlow attacking moves. Gary Stanley was drafted in from the second fifteen and played well at outside centre and Jamie Pope was on the bench replacing Darren Hawkins during the second half.

Harlow began brightly with an attack which led to a penalty chance which was easily converted by Lee Harron, Harlow’s place kicker for the day. Within minutes Harlow extended their lead when they won a Rochford line out, James Grover supreme in the air throughout the match. From the ensuing maul Harlow worked their way up to the try line and prop Paul Prindiville crashed over. Five minutes later and Harron struck again with another penalty which bounced in off the upright, the Rams in dominant form hardly allowing Rochford to get out of their half at all.

Harlow won another line out in Rochford’s twenty two and this time it was Harron who wriggled over at the tail of the maul.

Despite their supremacy in the line outs Harlow were always under pressure in the scrummages and were wheeled several times giving away possession to the visitors. It was Harlow who again struck, Harron having narrowly missed another penalty was successful with a better kick just before half time giving the Rams a lead of 19-0 at the interval.

Rochford won better ball in the second half and from a scrummage their inside centre, Darren Spencer, who looked their most dangerous player burst through the defence to score, the try converted by Damien Cooper, the Leagues leading points kicker.

With fifteen minutes gone James Ephgrave was replaced by Gary Brown at prop and a few minutes later Wayne Morgan came on for the injured Jarvis.

Rochford continued to profit by some Harlow indiscipline and worked their way into Harlow’s twenty two. A tap penalty saw spin the ball wide and their winger Chris Night scored in the corner, an excellent conversion was then put over by Cooper.

Jamie Pope then replaced Darren Hawkins and was immediately in the action.

From a well judged box kick by Harron Lee smith sprinted through only to be caught on the line and tackled unfairly. The penalty was spun to Matt Howard coming in at pace. He in turn was stopped on the line but Rochford killed the ball preventing a score and the Referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try. Harron’s conversion brought his personal tally for the match to sixteen points.

Rochford however had the last word when they again attacked down the wing from a scrummage, Night scoring and Cooper kicking another excellent conversion.

Harlow played out the dying minutes in midfield defending well and deserved their victory which brings them level on points with Rochford but below them because of  the visitors’ better points difference.

Tries: Paul Prindiville, Lee Harron, Penalty Try

Conversions: Lee Harron

Penalties: Lee Harron (3)

(Follow links to player profiles)
1. James Ephgrave  (Sub Gary Brown)
2. Scott Romaine

3. Paul Prindiville

4. Darran Hawkins (Sub Jamie Pope)

5. James Grover
6. Jon Snow

7. Mark Pickett
8. Scott Thorne
9. Lee Harron
10. Ben Jarvis (Sub Wayne Morgan)
11. Lee Smith

12. Phil Ellis
13. Gary Stanley
14. Simon Vanbeck

15. Matt Howard

International Honours For Pope.

Jamie Pope has been selected for the England Partially Hearing Squad and plays his first game for them next weekend at St.Ives in Cornwall. The match is a final trials game against Cornwall.

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