Romford 7 Harlow 40

London Three North East

Harlow ran in six very good tries to claim a decisive victory over Romford on Saturday including a hat trick for Will Grimley on the wing and two for scrum half Lee Harron. The Harlow backs gave a taste of what they could do when they cut loose in the second half last week against Rochford but in this game they were linking smoothly from the first minute. Romford have traditionally relied on a heavy pack which might on a wet day in December be able to grind down the opposition. On a hot autumn day they had no answer to a Harlow side where all fifteen players were committed to open running rugby.  On the occasions when they did drive their way up into the Harlow half no. 10 Nick Ford kicked with precision so send them back to start again.

Harlow attacked from the kick off but were driven back by the weight of the Romford pack in the rolling maul. Although it cost a little territory the Harlow pack are also skilled in this department and it soon became clear that they had the ability to disrupt. As the game progressed the Romford advantage in this was to be negated by the greater fitness of the Harlow forwards who got to the breakdown quicker. The pattern the game was to take emerged when Sean Banks on the wing broke deep into the Romford 22 before being stopped.  Minutes later the ball went out to the other wing and Will Grimley was too strong for the defence scoring in the corner. Harlow continued to run everything and a half break by centre Billy Stanley put the home side under real pressure. He was stopped, just, but Romford killed the ball and Ford slotted the penalty for an 8 point lead. On about twenty minutes slick hands saw another good pass go out to Grimley who ran in his second try. This time Ford was on target with the conversion and Harlow were 15 – 0 ahead.  For a short period Romford came back into the game. Harlow were penalized allowing them for kick for touch deep inside the 22. From the lineout they moved the ball across and ran in a good try under the posts, converted to bring the score to 15 – 7. This spurred them on an for a while they put pressure on Harlow but then with five minutes to go in the half Harlow were awarded a free kick for a scrummage infringement fifteen yards from the Romford line. Eynon tried to take it quickly but was called back by the referee but then Harron grabbed to ball and took the kick at the correct mark and weaved past two defenders to make the try line. Ford slotted another conversion to make it  22 – 7 at half time.

In the equivalent game last year Harlow had dominated the first half only to let Romford come back to steal it. Remembering that, the next score was going to be decisive. It was, a great handling movement putting Grimley in for his third and probably his best try.  As the game went on the pace was telling and Romford rarely got out of their own half. Another stabbing run by Harron gave him his second try. The defender got hands on him but no way had the strength to hold him. If he had it would have served no purpose with Paul Eynon and Gary Brown in close support had they been needed. Throughout the game the Harlow pack had worked with strength and above all speed to keep pressure on the home side. With fifteen minutes to go they added their mark when Scott Romaine paying at flanker came away with the ball and crashed over in the corner for the sixth Harlow try.  In the closing minutes Harlow were awarded a penalty and may have been tempted to run it but mindful of the importance of points difference in a close league Ford slotted the kick for a final score of 40 points to seven.

This win leaves Harlow in third place in the league on point difference, one of only three undefeated sides. Surprise of the afternoon was Westcliff who put sixty-nine points on Norwich without conceding a score to go top. The Norfolk side had started the season well with two good wins so everyone is asking, was this a freak result or are Westcliff the real challengers? Harlow will find out when they visit them on the 6^th October. First however they have to contend with Brentwood at home next Saturday, never an easy proposition so a full turnout of both players and supporters is needed; kick off 3pm.

Tries: Will Grimley (3), Lee Harron (2), Scott Romaine

Conversions: Nick Ford (2)

Penalties: Nick Ford (2)

1. - Gary Brown

2. - Stuart Wilkins

3. - Paul Prindiville

4. - James Ephgrave

5. - Paul Eynon

6. - Scott Romaine

7. - Mark Pickett (Sub 65 mins Michael Weston)

8. - Kain Claridge

9. - Lee Harron

10. - Nick Ford (Captain)

11. - Will Grimley

12. - Billy Stanley (Sub 70 mins Wayne Morgan)

13. - Ben Jarvis

14. - Sean Banks

15. - Josh Bohl (Sub 55 mins James McFerran)

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