Diss 14 Harlow 19

London Three North East

The game started well with Harlow on the attack. An initial run by their backs was blocked but then from a penalty they put the ball into touch about 15 yards short of the try line. A clean lineout catch from Jon Snow lead to the trademark Harlow rolling maul. The forwards controlled the ball brilliantly all the way to the line where the slipped it to Lee Harron for the touchdown. Ford was slightly wide with the conversion but Harlow were 5 points ahead. It was over the next twenty minutes that they had most of their problems. Several touch kicks landed in play and allowed the home side to take the game back into the Rams half. To make matters worse they failed to take on board the fact that the referee was taking a very firm line on rucking offences and managed to concede four kickable penalties three of witch were slotted to give Diss a 9 – 5 lead. Almost on half time Diss decided to run a penalty and the Harlow pack managed to break the move down. After two more short drives by the forwards the Harlow backs broke clear with full back Brown joining the line to make the extra man. A break by centre Jarvis created a half gap and then a return pass to Brown left him a clean run in for the try. Ford was on target with the last kick of the half to make it 9 – 12 in Harlow’s favour at half time.

Harlow started the second half with a much more positive approach. They kept the play in the Diss half for virtually all of the next 25 minutes. In the few occasions when Diss did manage to kick the ball upfield precise and long touch kicks from fly half Ford and Bohl at centre pegged them right back into their own 22. If they tried to run the ball all they had for their trouble were crashing tackles from the Harlow back row of Pickett, Matchett and Stoba. Darren Hawkins who was in at lock this week to replace an injured Claridge was also very effective in defence. Harlow attacked almost non stop and to their credit Diss defended well but a break had to come. Finally Harlow the Harlow pack set up possession and Harlow no 6 Scott Stoba spotted a narrow gap in the line and went for it at pace. Within ten yards he had split the defence to run in a beautiful try under the posts. Ford converted for a 9 – 19 lead. In the closing fifteen minutes Diss committed themselves to the attack and played much more of the game in the Harlow half. The high penalty count earlier on came back to haunt Harlow with first Prindiville and then Stoba yellow carded leaving Harlow to hold out with 13 players. The did so until three minutes from the end when the Diss pack forced their way over for an unconverted try. At the restart Diss through everything into the attack and managed to get their winger away but he was promptly bundled in to touch on the half way line to end the game.

Tries: Lee Harron, Francis Brown, Scott Stoba

Conversions: Nick Ford (2)

1. - James Ephgrave  

2. - Scott Romaine

3. - Paul Prindiville (Sub 70 mins Danny Lane)

4. - Jon Snow

5. - Darran Hawkins

6. - Scott Stoba

7. - Mark Pickett

8. - Lloyd Matchett

9. - Lee Harron (Captain)

10. - Nick Ford

11. - Simon Vanbeck (Sub 70 mins Sean Banks)

12. - Josh Bohl

13. - Ben Jarvis

14. - Matt Howard (Sub 10 mins Andrew Vanston)

15. - Francis Brown

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