Harlow 61 Colchester 10

London Three North East

The Rams played some dazzling rugby in their victory over a Colchester side who had beaten them back in September in the first match of the season. Harlow now go top by one point after this well earned win following Bury’s draw at Brentwood 15-15.

The Rams tore into Colchester from the whistle and were 12-0 up in four minutes. Winger Simon Vanbeck opened the scoring from a scrummage inside the opposition twenty two going in from the blind side.His try was not converted but the next one scored by full back Josh Bohl was eased over  by fly half Nick Ford. Bohl’s try came following another searing run by Van beck who went past his markers into the twenty two before sending the ball out to the right flank. Two passes from supporting players and Bohl cut inside to cross the line.

Ten minutes later after a spell of pressure from the visitors and Harlow won a penalty thirty metres out which Ford converted. Within three minutes more pressure lead to another three points from Ford. The kick off deep into Harlow territory saw the Harlow forwards stray offside and the Colchester scrum half, Clements kicked three points. This revival was soon countered as Harlow won a lineout in the Colchester twenty two and mauled it towards the line for flanker Scott Stoba to score leaving Harlow 23-3 up at the interval.

Vanbeck scored his second try shortly after the restart , the ball being released quickly from a forward drive to pass along the line from inside centre Billy Stanley to Fossie Brown then to Vanbeck.

With prop Gary Brown now coming on to replace Paul Prindiville Harlow were still in control up front. From another ruck which the Harlow pack controlled  a loose pass allowed the Colchester outside centre, Riki Broughton, to intercept and run through to score a try which Ben Clements again converted.

This spurred Harlow ion to greater efforts and their pack forced a five metre scrummage which they pushed up to the line for scrum half Lee Harron to pounce on the ball and score a try which Ford duly converted. From the kick off the Rams struck again. This time it was lock Lloyd Matchett who made a powerful run down the right wing before offloading to Stoba who passed to lock Jon Snow who scored, his try converted by Ford.

Flanker Mark Pickett now left the field to give way to Darren Hawkins , another Lee Harron try following shortly as the ball went out to the wing and was passed back inside for Harron to skip past the defence and score under the posts, allowing Ford another simple conversion. Then wing Sean Banks replaced Vanbeck only to score within minutes when Harlow attacked in the middle and sucked in defenders leaving Harlow with an overlap which Banks finished off wide out on the wing. Ford failed to convert but finished off a great afternoon with the boot by kicking a conversion from the last try of the game which Bohl scored following another flowing backs move., again out wide on the wing. Ford finished the match with sixteen points from two penalties and five conversions, a fine display.

This was some of the best rugby Harlow have played all season and with the depth they have in this squad they look good enough to have an impact on League two should they win promotion. They have to beat Ipswich away next week to keep their position at the top and meet Bury for the last game of the season on April 14^th at Ram Gorse.

Tries: Simon Vanbeck (2) Lee Harron (2) Scott Stoba, Jon Snow, Josh Bohl (2), Sean Banks

Conversions: Nick Ford (5)

Penalties: Nick Ford (2)

1. - James Ephgrave

2. - Scott Romaine

3. - Paul Prindiville (Sub Gary Brown 40mins)

4. - Jon Snow

5. - Lloyd Matchett

6. - Scott Stoba

7. - Mark Pickett (Sub Darran Hawkins 45mins)

8. - Kain Claridge

9. - Lee Harron (Captain)

10. - Nick Ford

11. - Simon Vanbeck (Sub Sean Banks 50mins)

12. - Billy Stanley

13. - Francis Brown

14. - Matt Howard

15. - Josh Bohl

To view more match reports - click here

No Pictures this week sorry