Braintree 12 Harlow 29

London Three North East

Harlow got their league challenge back on track with a good win on a bitterly cold day at Braintree last Saturday. The home side were considerably better than the team the Rams faced there last season and it took a long time to take control of the game. Harlow however can be pleased with four well taken tries, good kicking by Nick Ford and perhaps best of all a great debut by Michael Weston moving up from colts rugby to fill the gap left by Mark Pickett.

Braintree started strongly and for most of the first ten minutes Harlow had to defend before a good clearance kick took them up into the Braintree half. In the ruck Harlow were much better in ball retention than in previous weeks but against a heavier pack found it hard to make much distance. In the set scrums as well the home side caused problems and at times Harron had to deal with difficult ball as they were forced back though to his credit he worked well with Ford to achieve good distribution. After about 20 minutes of cut and thrust play Harlow had their first real scoring chance; the ball moved wide to Will Grimley on the wing who broke one tackle and then forced his way over the try line. The Harlow pack drove in support but excellent defence by Braintree held him up and eventually forced him into touch. Harlow continued to have the best of the territory and put the home side under tremendous pressure with a sequence of rucks. Although they had total control they could not make the few yards to clinch it and when Braintree were penalized for killing the ball Ford took the points for a 3 – 0 lead. The same pattern continued until half time; Ford just missed with another penalty and the two sides slogged it out with neither able to dominate.

With the wind now behind them Harlow made good use of the boot both working the touchline where their lineout, as usual, worked very well with Snow in particular taking clean ball from the Harlow throw and pressuring Braintree on theirs. A good opportunist break by Harron took them to 20 metres from the try line where he offloaded to flanker Jamie Pope who was far too strong for the defence and powered in for the try. Ford converted for a 10 – 0 lead. Braintree hit back very quickly, their fullback counter attacked from a deep Harlow kick and made good ground before his pack took the ball on and the blind side flanker touched down near the posts. Their No. 9 converted to bring it to 10 – 7 in favour of Harlow. Another drive by the Harlow pack saw prop Gary Brown break away and bounce a couple of defenders to go over for a second try and again Ford was spot on; 17 – 7. Braintree however would not give up and added another try from their winger to close the gap to 17 – 12. Harlow however were beginning to show their strength and a tiring Braintree side had to play a lot of the game in their half. From a ruck ball out to the right Harron pass infield and Harlow set up a maul about 30 yards out. Claridge ripped the ball out and the Rams moved the it wide through the backs allowing Vanbeck to break through for a great try on the left wing. Ford’s conversion hit the upright but at 22 – 12 Harlow were at last in control.  In the last play of the match they produced one of the best tries of the season. Harron under pressure put in a great screw kick down the left touchline and Vanbeck came through at full speed to take the ball first bounce. His speed took past a bemused winger and his strength saw him see off centre and fullback for the try. Ford converted with the last kick in the match.

This coming Saturday Harlow are at home to second placed Diss who on form should take the points. If however Harlow could win the game which ends the first half of the season they would keep their promotion challenge very much alive. The match is preceded by the annual former players lunch so there should be plenty of support on the touchline.

Tries: Jamie Pope, Gary Brown, Simon Vanbeck (2)

Conversions: Nick Ford (3)

Penalties: Nick Ford

1. - Gary Brown

2. - Scott Romaine

3. - Paul Prindiville (Sub Darran Hawkins 55 mins)

4. - Jon Snow

5. - James Ephgrave

6. - Jamie Pope (Sub Wayne Morgan 65 mins )

7. - Michael Weston (Sub Stuart Wilkins 60 mins )

8. - Kain Claridge

9. - Lee Harron

10. - Nick Ford

11. - Will Grimley

12. - Josh Bohl

13. - Ben Jarvis

14. - Simon Vanbeck

15. - Sean Banks

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