Harlow 25 Brentwood 24

London Three North East

Harlow played with great commitment throughout to defeat the league leaders by a single point. A Ford penalty with ten minutes to go restored the lead that they had held for most of the game and a fiercely contested game in the final minutes allowed them to keep play in the visitors half for most of the time and take the points. This keeps Harlow in fourth place and drops Brentwood to third on points difference. More important if keeps Harlow in the hunt for that all important place in the top two.

From the kick off Harlow took play deep into the Brentwood half with the forwards showing real pace and commitment. An attempted drive for the line was blocked and then an attack by the backs. After five minutes with the pressure still on Brentwood conceded a penalty for killing the ball and Ford slotted the kick for a three point lead.  Brentwood countered from the re-start and a period of cut and thrust play in the Harlow half followed.  A mishandled clearance by Harlow from a Brentwood kick for position let their No 7 Parks take the ball and cut in for a try converted by their no  10 Sam Whitehead. From the restart Harlow were soon back into the visitors half and awarded another penalty kicked for the corner. A clean take by Snow in the lineout allowed them to set the rolling maul where with great control they moved the ball right before rolling it off on the left and driving prop James Ephgrave over for the try and an 8 – 7 lead.  The Harlow forwards continued to make inroads into the Brentwood defence and Lloyd Matchett the Harlow no8 who had been making the hard yards all through the game broke clear and stretched for the line for the second Harlow try. Ford was on target from way out on the left and Harlow had a 15 – 7 lead. Brentwood fought well in the closing stages of the half but fierce tackling, particularly by the Harlow back row of Matchett, Stoba and Pickett meant that they were going nowhere and Harlow turned around in front.

Fifteen minutes into the second half  a good break by Vanbeck on the left wing saw him get round two defenders and more important cut in towards the posts to touch down allowing Ford to make sure of the conversion for a 22 – 7 lead.  Harlow continued to attack but as the game progressed the visitors, taking full advantage of the slope, showed why they were league leaders. Their no 10 Whitehead made good use of probing kicks to keep play wall into the Rams half and their backs showed good pace. A break by their winger Alex Gibson produced another try and Whitehead, who leads the kicking table in this division, slotted the conversion to make it 22 – 14. The pressure continued and then their No 8 John Beith crashed in for a try, converted by Whitehead and from a safe lead Harlow were now having to hang on to a 22 – 21 lead. With fifteen minutes to go Harlow were penalised for taking out the Brentwood lineout jumper and a long shot from Whitehead game them a 24 – 22 lead. Harlow hit back very strongly and battered their way up field to maintain pressure in the visitor’s line. One penalty was kicked for the corner but Brentwood defence held and they cleared downfield. With less than ten minutes left Brentwood again killed the ball about thirty-five yards out and Eynon asked Ford to try for the posts. A freshening wind meant that twice the ball was blown off the tee before Eynon acted as a placer and Ford put it between the sticks for a 25 – 24 lead. Total commitment by Harlow kept play upfiled for the closing minutes and a very important win.

Next Saturday Harlow are at home to Datchworth in the third round of the Senior vase kicking off at 2pm. The following week they are away to second placed Bury St. Edmunds for another critical league encounter.

Tries: James Ephgrave, Lloyd Matchett, Simon Vanbeck

Conversions: Nick Ford (2)

Penalties: Nick Ford (2)

1. - Gary Brown

2. - Scott Romaine

3. - James Ephgrave (Sub 50mins Paul Prindiville )

4. - Jon Snow

5. - Paul Eynon (Captain)

6. - Scott Stoba

7. - Mark Pickett

8. - Lloyd Matchett

9. - Lee Harron

10. - Nick Ford

11. - Simon Vanbeck

12. - Billy Stanley

13. - Ben Jarvis

14. - Matt Howard (Sub 65 mins Francis Brown)

15. - Andrew Vanston

Sub not used: Kain Claridge

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Sorry no photo's this week poor light