Harlow 26 Saffron Walden 8

London League Division 3

A few weeks ago Harlow just scraped home by 2 points against Saffron Walden in the away league match. In the return at Ram Gorse on Saturday they were much more decisive despite the visitors fielding a side which seemed stronger. Harlow showed their intentions right from the kick off taking the ball clean and attacking with the ball in hand. Fullback Matt Howard came into the line to take a clean pass and easily outpaced the defence to cut in for a try close to the posts. Phil Ellis slotted the conversion for a 7 – 0 lead. Almost immediately the Rams were penalize for holding on to the ball in the tackle and the visitors cut the lead by 3 points. Another penalty could have put them right back into the game but this time it was just out of range. For the next fifteen minutes it was a cut and thrust battle between the forwards but with neither side able to dominate. The Harlow break came when Harron spun the ball wide and McFerran at outside centre saw the gap and ran in another good try which he converted himself to take the score to 14 – 3. Towards the end of the half Harlow kept the visitors pegged back into their own half with some good touch kicking. Walden conceded several penalties for killing the ball. Harlow kicked one for goal but missed. The rest they opted to play to their forwards exploiting the lineout dominance from Scott lifting Snow clear for a clean take. Both Harlow props, Brown and Prindiville made good ground ball in hand but the defence held until finally a charge on the line by the Harlow pack allowed Eynon to just get the ball onto the line for the try. McFerran converted for a 21- 3 lead at half time.

Having been hit in the opening minutes of the first half, the second was no better for Saffron Walden. This time it was Rams’ winger Simon Vanbeck who took the ball on his own 10 metre line and left the first three defenders for dead. At one stage it looked as if he would complete his sixty yard try by pace alone but then as he approached the 22 he put up a well placed chip kick and beat the last two defenders to the touch down. The conversion did not quite carry but at 26 – 3 the game looked to be won. To their credit the visitors countered hard and they go a chance when a penalty allowed them to get well into the Harlow half. The rams defended well but a committed Walden got across the gain line at three breakdowns finally just making the line for a try near the posts. They kicker sliced the conversion but at 26 – 8 they had a little more of a target. They continued to pressure the Harlow defence but this showed what is perhaps the biggest change in the Rams in their revival in recent weeks. Their defensive tacking is much more decisive. In the first place they are moving much quicker to form a tight defensive line and above all they are talking well and drifting effectively so that even if the ball carrier half breaks a tackle there is a second player to hit him before he regains balance. A good example of collaboration came for a strong attack by the Walden winger with his fullback coming outside in support. David Stradling made a crashing tackle on the winger who just got the ball away to his support runner who received the ball and a flying Paul Scott together, landing four meters in touch. The final quarter saw Harlow back in control and working to extend their lead. Lee Harron who had made a massive contribution came within a fingers length of scoring trying to emulated Vanbeck’s chip through but this time the ball was marginally out of reach and the defender cleared up. Saffron Walden tried to make ground using the long kick down the slope although they should have realized that with Howard and Smith hanging deep they were simply inviting a high speed counter attack. Although Harlow used the free possession to keep play in the 22 Walden held on to the end at the existing scoreline.

This result keeps Harlow in 5^th place in the league and boosts their margin over sides below. If they can repeat the much improved showing of recent weeks they have a good chance of moving up if any other the higher placed teams falter.

Tries:  Howard, McFerran, Eynon, Vanbeck

Conversions:  Ellis, McFerran (2)

(Follow links to player profiles)
1. Gary Brown (Sub Ben Branch)

2. Scott Romaine

3. Paul Prindiville

4. Jon Snow

5. Paul Scott

6. Scott Thorne

7. Mark Pickett (Sub Shaun Roberts)
8. Paul Eynon (Captain)

9. Lee Harron
10. Phil Ellis
11. Lee Smith

12. David Stradling

13. James McFerran

14. Simon Vanbeck (Sub Ian Rundall)

15. Matt Howard

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