Harlow 17 Bury St. Edmunds 29

London Three North East

If you had asked Harlow at the start of the season how they would feel about finishing second in the league the answer would probably have been, “great!” As the season progressed however their results got steadily better. It was therefore very hard to accept defeat from the now league champions Bury last Saturday.  Having missed the certain promotion they have to play off against Div 3 NE runners up Welwyn on the 28^th for the third promotion slot. With so much at stake for both teams it will be a very hard game.

Despite the score line Saturday produced a great game of rugby and the Rams made a ferocious battle of it against a side who had pulled in players from far and wide. It was only a try in the last ten minutes which took the game virtually our of reach. The game attracted over 600 spectators and given the excitement and quality of the rugby the club expect most of them back next season.

The game started well for Harlow with the forwards well into the visitors half and for the first few minutes looking as if they might break through for an early score, When however Bury countered it became clear that they had real pace in their squad. Harlow have to defend for most of the first quarter and most of the time their tackling was hard and very effective. Eventually however too many players were committed and the visitors ran in a try, converted for a 7 point lead. Harlow countered very strongly and Bury conceded a penalty at the ruck. A well placed touch kick gave them a lineout 10 yards out and from there they set up their trade mark rolling maul. Good smuggling of the ball and changes of direction took them to the line and hooker Scott Romaine in his customary ball carrier role went over for the try. Nick Ford was on target with the conversion and it was level at seven points all. A period of cut and thrust play saw Harlow on the attack again but a yellow card for Scott Stoba for a rucking offence meant that they played out the half with a man short in the pack. An badly cut hand forced Matt Howard to leave the field to be replaced on the wing by Francis Brown. This was to have been Matt’s farewell game after many years of in the first team but now he is banking on being OK for the Welwyn  replay. The extra man allowed Bury to extend their dominance in the set scrums and in the closing minutes of the half run in a second try to turn around with a 12 – 7 lead.

The second half saw the worst setback of the game when Bury kicked off very high and very deep into the Harlow half.  The Rams failed to support the catcher allowing Bury to steal and run in an easy try under the posts. The conversion made it 19 – 7. Harlow responded in the best possible way taking play in the visitors half. Three good phases of forward play to the right hand side of the field set up clean possession and then scrum half Harron release his backs Harron. The ball was moved through four pairs of hands to Vanbeck on  the wing who made twenty yards before committing the tackler and making an inch perfect inside pass to centre Ben Jarvis who ran in for the try. A conversion by Ford took it to 14 – 19.  Harlow continued to attack but the very high tackle count was telling in terms of fatigue and another break by Bury gave then an unconverted try and a 24 – 14 margin. On their with about fifteen minutes to go Ford slotted a penalty for Harlow taking the score to 17 – 24, more important within reach of a converted try. They came very close when Harlow kicked a loose ball towards the try line. Lee Harron dived between two defenders and seems to get his hand on the ball first but the referee was too far back to see and so no try was awarded. Finally with 5 minutes to go a stolen ball allowed Bury to run in another try giving them a 12 point lead. Harlow spent most of the last minutes in the Bury 22 but  it was too easy for them to run the clock down and make the game safe.

Tries: Scott Romaine,

Conversions: Nick Ford (2)

Penalties: Nick Ford

1. - Gary Brown

2. - Scott Romaine

3. - Paul Prindiville (Sub James Ephgrave 60mins)

4. - Jon Snow

5. - Lloyd Matchett

6. - Scott Stoba

7. - Mark Pickett

8. - Kain Claridge (Sub Paul Eynon 72mins)

9. - Lee Harron (Captain)

10. - Nick Ford

11. - Simon Vanbeck

12. - Billy Stanley

13. - Ben Jarvis

14. - Matt Howard (Sub Francis Brown 60mins)

15. - Josh Bohl

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