Harlow 33 Norwich 24

London Three North East League

Harlow first XV finished their league campaign on a high last Saturday with a very convincing win over Norwich. Although the Norfolk side are bottom of the table they had turned their game around in recent weeks with two wins and a draw from their last 4 games. Harlow started knowing that they would have to work hard for a result. With Stuart Wilkins not available Tommy Johnson made a welcome return at hooker. Lee Harron moved to fly half to replace the injured McFerran and Charlie Woodington took over the No. 9 shirt, a combination which has worked well a number of times this season. Harron enjoyed his role as play maker and kept the visitors under pressure throughout with a combination of pinpoint kicking and well take backs moves; mot to mention a try and 4 conversions from 5 attempts.

The game started with Norwich driving deep into the Harlow half and forcing a penalty which went wide of the posts. Harron missed with a Harlow penalty before the Norwich loose head prop Snowling seized on a loose ball in the Harlow 22 and crashed through for a try putting them 5 – nil ahead. Harlow hit back from the kick off when open side flanker Wayne Morgan took an awkward bouncing ball at pace and sliced through the defence to score under the posts. Harron converted for an 8 – 5 lead and Harlow were to stay in front for the rest of the game.  Five minutes later Harlow struck again when Harron passed out to centre Luke Bowering who switched back in and wrong footed the defence for a try under the posts, converted for a 14 – 5 lead. On 22 minutes Harlow drove the ball over the try line but it was judged to be held up. A minute later from the scrum Eynon picked up at No. 8 and slipped the ball to Chris Webb who drove over the line with the support of Eynon and the Harlow pack. Norwich finding themselves 21 – 5 down hit back hard first with a try by their tight head Riches from a forward drive and then another by their lock Cook this time converted by full back O’Brian to narrow the margin to 21 – 17. For ten minutes Norwich hammered away at the Harlow defence but good tacking and some accurate clearance kicking kept them out.  Then with five minutes to going the half Harlow took control. From a ruck Woodington picked up only to find his line to Harron blocked by an offside player. He took a couple of paces and delayed his pass before releasing the Harlow fly half who sidestepped the defence for a try which he converted making it 28 – 17 at half time.

Ten minutes into the second half a spectacular try extended the Harlow lead. Harron chipped to the corner and winger Will Grimley chasing the ball at full speed out jumped the defending winger to take the ball one handed and bring it under control. He hit the ground running and cut past the fullback for a try in the corner. The conversion missed but with a 33 – 17 lead to Harlow the visitors needed at least 3 scores to take the lead. Harlow defended well in a second half and with the slope in their favour kept Norwich pinned back in their own half for much of the game.  With a quarter of an hour to go Hall added another unconverted try for Norwich but Harlow kept up the pressure to the end.

This weekend on Sunday 26th April a number of Harlow players will turn out for Harlow Presidents XV in the charity game in aid of Child Victims of Crime. After that it will be a couple of weeks rest before summer training gets under way. This season they have brought a lot of new players into the first team and it took time for everyone to adjust. In recent weeks however the squad is coming together and things look much more promising.

Tries: Wayne Morgan, Luke Bowering, Chris Webb, Lee Harron, Will Grimley

Conversions:  Lee Harron (4)

Final League Table

Team List

1 -  James Ephgrave

2 -  Tommy Johnson
3 -  Paul Prindiville (Sub Matt Branch 75 mins )  
4 -  Darren Hawkins  

5 -  Kerry Palmer (Sub Mark Twiner 50 mins )  
6 -  Shaun Roberts
7 -  Wayne Morgan (Sub David Stradling 75 mins )  
8 -  Paul Eynon

9 -  Charlie Woodington

10 - Lee Harron

11 - Chris Webb  
12 - Simon Vanbeck

13 - Luke Bowering  
14 - Will Grimley
15 - Rob Mackie

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