Harlow 15 Romford & Gidea Park 31

London League Division 3

Harlow faced a Romford side on Saturday who were probably as good as any they have played all season. Two tries by the visitors in the closing minutes produced a flattering scoreline for the visitors although on balance they deserved the win.

From the kick off Harlow bounced the ball into touch inside the Romford 22, stole the ball at the lineout and set up a rolling maul. They drove the visitors back towards the corner controlling the ball superbly before scrum half Lee Harron burrowed through for the touchdown as they crossed the line, giving Harlow a 5  - 0 lead.  From the restart Romford countered strongly making good use of their backs to force play up into the Harlow half. A penalty allowed them to cut the lead to 5 – 3. Romford continued to attack using the pace of their backs and two scoring chances were cut out by good tacking by the Rams before another penalty put the visitors in front 5 – 6. Harlow improved their territorial position after a good run and chip through by Lee Smith took them into the Romford 22. The visitors held on against the Harlow pack for about 10 minutes before another rolling maul took them to the try line and again it was Harron who bored through for the score and a 10 – 6 lead. In the closing minutes of the half a Harlow backs move came together allowing full back Matt Howard to come into the line and break two tackles to make it 15 – 6 but then a converted try by the visitors cut the Harlow lead to 15 – 13 at half time.

In the third quarter Harlow continued to put pressure on Romford forwards and set up a number of good driving mauls. The visitors however were beginning to read the strategy and managed to steal possession on a number of occasions. Early in the final quarter a penalty finally age the visitors the lead at 15 – 16. Harlow continued to put pressure on until with about 10 minutes to go a missed tackle let the Romford backs through for a converted try taking it to 15 – 23 giving them a two score advantage. A further penalty extended it to 15 - 26 and then in the last move of the game an unconverted try took it to 15 – 31.  In a league which looks like being very close the points conceded in the closing minutes could be as costly as the defeat.

Harlow are still in 7^th position and have to play three more games to complete the first half of the season. Next week they are away to 8^th placed Saffron Walden and then in the first two weeks of December are home to placed Westcliff and then away to  placed Ipswich. If they are to start playing their return matches from a respectable league position they need to take some points from these three games.

Tries: Lee Harron (2), Matt Howard

(Follow links to player profiles)
1. James Ephgrave  

2. Scott Romaine

3. Paul Prindiville

4. Paul Scott

5. James Grover (Sub Jon Snow)
6. Scott Thorne

7. Mark Pickett
8. Paul Eynon (Captain)
9. Lee Harron
10. Billy Stanley
11. Lee Smith

12. Phil Ellis

13. Ben Jarvis (Sub Wayne Morgan)

14. Simon Vanbeck

15. Matt Howard

Sub not used: Gary Brown

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