Mersea Island 26 Harlow 10

(Half time 10 - 10)

London Three North East League

Harlow started strongly against Mersea Island leading for most of the first half and turning round all square. In the second half however the fact that they had key players missing and with others carrying injuries let the home side break away and take the points.  The good news from a Harlow point of view was that the commitment that brought them their win over Chelmsford was still there. With Norwich winning at home to Enfield on Saturday the significance of that win is even greater.  Harlow now have two weeks to get the whole tame fit before they meet Norwich at home in their last game of the season.

Harlow started strongly and within two minutes a good break by fly half McFerran saw him over in the corner for a try. The conversion missed but Harlow were ahead. Harlow continued to put pressure on Mersea and had two long penalty chances which did not carry before Vanbeck playing at centre slipped two defenders and went for the line. He had an unmarked player outside but showed the ball and then cut in himself breaking the final tackle for a try a 10 – 0 lead for Harlow. The half continued with a both sides having chances before on 22 minutes Park the Mersea fullback found a gap to go over for the try. Their scrum half Williams converted and then added a penalty for a 10 points all score at half time.

Playing with the slope in their favour Mersea started the second half strongly, putting their centre Walters through for an unconverted try in the 45^th minute. Wiliams landed them a penalty and then soon after their other centre Lemarquamb slotted a very good drop goal to give them a 21 – 10 advantage.  At the start of the last quarter James McFerran who have been carrying an ankle injury for some time went of to be replaces by David Stradling and Charlie Woodington on the wing was replaced be Sean Banks.  In the final quarter Harlow had two good scoring chances. The first from a penalty which took them deep into the Mersea 22 from where they launched several good forward drives but were just held out. A second similar attack started with a break by Harron who put in one of his trade mark kicks to the corner and again the Rams were held up on the line. Finally in the 74^th minute a break by Mersea took Harlow by surprise and an unconverted try allowed them to establish a three score margin at 26 – 0 which they retained to the final whistle.

Tries: James McFerran,  Simon Vanbeck

Conversions:  

Penalties:

Team List

1 -  James Ephgrave

2 -  Stuart Wilkins
3 -  Paul Prindiville  
4 -  Darren Hawkins  

5 -  Kerry Palmer
6 -  Mark Bowering
7 -  Wayne Morgan
8 -  Paul Eynon

9 -  Lee Harron

10 - James McFerran (Sub David Stradling 55 mins )  

11 - Chris Webb  
12 - Simon Vanbeck

13 - Luke Bowering  
14 - Charlie Woodington (Sub Sean Banks 50 mins )  
15 - Rob Mackie

Subs not used: Matt Branch  

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