Ipswich 13 Harlow 23

London Three North East

The Rams retained their grip at the top of the table with a team performance against an Ipswich side who were unable to break through the Harlow defence in the second half of this close game.

Harlow went ahead after resisting the first ten minutes of Ipswich pressure when following an attack by Harlow the home side strayed offside and in a fierce cross wind fly half Nick Ford slotted home a penalty. Two minutes later the Ipswich number 10, Le Marquand,  replied with a penalty  but this spurred Harlow on and from the kick off they put themselves into another good attacking position. A well placed penalty kick by Ford into the corner lead to a controlled line out and Harlow set up the rolling maul. It was prop Paul Prindiville aided by Kain Claridge who crossed the line and touched down. Ipswich then took the lead rather against the run of play. From a break in mid-field Harlow lost the ball and were caught by the counter attack, the Ipswich winger Elbrow sprinting clear of the defence. His try was converted by Le Marquand from near to the touch line and Harlow trailed 8-10. After two minutes another Ford penalty restored Harlow’s lead and the score at half time was Harlow 11 Ipswich 10.

The second half saw the visitors mount a series of attacks in the Ipswich twenty two without being able to break down the home side’s defence. After twenty minutes of pressure the try came from an Ipswich line out five metres out. The ball was tapped back awkwardly thanks to the pressure on the Ipswich jumper from Claridge.

The first to react was the Harlow hooker Scott Romiane who stole the ball and touched down. Ipswich then had a rare visit to the Harlow half and forced a penalty in front of the posts which Le Marquand put over to bring the score to 16-13.

Within five minutes the Rams made the game safe with a beautiful try from inside centre Billy Stanley. The forwards made thirty metres up the left flank picking and driving before swinging the ball out wide to the right hand side. Stanley feinted to pass outside before sidestepping his way through would be tacklers leaving the defence floundering in his wake. He touched down to leave a simple conversion for Ford who made no mistake.

In the last ten minutes Ipswich threw everything at Harlow but the Rams’ defence was solid and they left the field having given a very convincing display of team rugby.

Tries: Paul Prindiville, Scott Romaine, Billy Stanley

Conversions: Nick Ford

Penalties: Nick Ford (2)

1. - Gary Brown

2. - Scott Romaine

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

4. - Jon Snow

5. - Lloyd Matchett

6. - Darran Hawkins (Sub Paul Eynon 72mins)

7. - Mark Pickett

8. - Kain Claridge

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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