Harlow 41 Colchester 15

London Three North East

Harlow move back up to third place in the league as a result of a convincing win over Colchester on Saturday.  The visitors were in eleventh place but certainly did not play like it. For two thirds of the game it was a close contest before Harlow cut loose with some excellent running rugby to shatter any dreams they may have had of winning. The game started with Harlow pressuring the Colchester try line and a penalty gave Harlow their first chance. Ford hit the posts but from the play that followed he made no mistake with a second attempt for a three nil lead.  Soon after this Harlow were penalised for holding the ball in the tackle and Gooch the Colchester fly half leveled the score. As the game progressed it became clear that the visitors who had three key players returning to the squad, all in the pack, were playing well above their form for the season so far. The contest up front was very close and for once Harlow had to settle for 50:50 in lineouts, an area they normally dominate. The Colchester fly half was good but opted to make a lot of use of the deep kick. Not a good tactic with Harlow 15 McFerran taking the high ball well, often on the run, and counter attacking at pace.  It was not until 25 minutes when Harlow broke the deadlock. Lee Harron ran the ball from deep in his own half, sprinting up the wing and drifting inside to draw the defender before offloading to Harlow winger Will Grimley. He made thirty yards before passing back in to Harron who found McFerran I  support  to take the pass and cut in for the try. For converted for a 10 – 3 lead which held to half time.

Colchester, now playing up the slope started well and from a good drive by their forwards Gooch broke off for the try which he converted to level things 10 points all.  Ford the Harlow skipper went off to be replaced by Sean Banks who went out to the wing with Josh Bohl moving to fly half.  After a worrying ten minutes Harlow went back ahead.  Harron moved the ball wide and Ben Jarvis at outside centre got his running angle just right to score near the corner. Bohl, taking over the kicking duties was just wide with the conversion but Harlow were back in front.  Harlow continued to put pressure on the visitors and were now beginning to make good ground in the forwards. From a maul a superb blind side break by Scott Romaine playing at 6 caught the defence totally off guard and he sprinted down the wing before cutting round behind the coal to touch down giving Bohl a safe conversion for a 22 – 10 lead. It was the signal for Harlow to cut loose and again from a ball spun wide there was excellent communication from the Harlow backs with Will Grimley calling for the pass to give him a clean run in for another try in the corner and at 27 – 10 the game began to look safe. Awarded a penalty midfield Harlow took the tap and again spun the ball wide, this time with McFerran up in support Harlow had a two man overlap and yet again excellent communication by the backs allowed Jarvis to cut round for his second try. Bohl slotted a long kick for a 34 – 10 lead. Harlow kept up the pressure and this time the Colchester defence had the the backs covered but Romaine was in support to  rip the ball away and run in his second try again converted for 41 -10. With only a couple of minutes on the clock Colchester re-started well and attacked up field allowing Gooch to run in a try making it 41 – 15 at the close.

Next week Harlow are away to fifth placed Norwich, a key game which could have a strong influence on the league positions.  Diss, one of the two undefeated sides, travel to the other, league leaders Westcliff, making this the weekend where the real title challengers will start to emerge.

Tries: James McFerran, Ben Jarvis (2), Scott Romaine (2), Will Grimley

Conversions: Nick Ford, Josh Bohl (3)

Penalties: Nick Ford

1. - James Ephgrave

2. - Stuart Wilkins

3. - Gary Brown

4. - Jon Snow

5. - Paul Eynon (Sub Darran Hawkins 60 minutes)

6. - Scott Romaine

7. - Mark Pickett

8. - Kain Claridge

9. - Lee Harron

10. - Nick Ford (Sub Sean Banks  45 minutes)

11. - Will Grimley

12. - Ben Jarvis

13. - Josh Bohl

14. - Simon Vanbeck (Sub Paul Prindiville 60 minutes)

15. - James McFerran

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