Sudbury 17 Harlow 11

(Half time 7 - 3)

London Three North East League

Harlow played their best game for many weeks against second placed Sudbury and in the closing twenty minutes had them fighting hard to hang on to the win. Perhaps the biggest improvement for the Rams was in their defensive play. Sudbury had some fast backs but Harlow marked them very closely and committed tackling kept them out of the game. The forwards stood up to tremendous pressure a number of times when Sudbury got close to the line but held them off. Spectators from both sides agreed that it was a great committed game of rugby and the Harlow contingent were delighted that for the second week in succession their team had played with skill and commitment.

Sudbury struck quickly from the kick off and within two minutes their centre Ragamate broke clear to run in an easy try which he converted for a 7 point lead. He was probably the most dangerous player in the squad and for the rest of the game close marking by Harlow centres kept him in check. For the next few minutes Sudbury came back strongly before a well placed kick by Will Grimley took play back up into their half. Harlow kept up the pressure stealing the ball from the scrum by an effective wheel and driving forward. Sudbury were penalized for handling in the ruck and Lee Harron playing at fly half rather than his usual scrum half slot put the kick over from 40 years out cutting the margin to 7 – 3. The second quarter of the game was a cut and thrust affair with Sudbury who had started well finding it much harder to create gaps. The back row of Shaun Roberts, Paul Eynon and Robert Cochrane played a very effective spoiling game and Charlie Woodington at scrum half hassled his opposite number at all of the set pieces. McFerran came on for Sean Banks at fullback and helped the Harlow cause by some effective long kicks for touch. Sudbury attacked strongly with their pack in the last ten minutes of the half keeping the Rams pegged back on their 5 metre line but the Harlow forwards kept them out and even drove them back before stealing the ball and putting in the clearance kick. The game turned around at 7 – 3 to the home side.

Sudbury started the second half determined to get a grip on the game and within a couple of minutes forced play up into the Harlow half from where A. Ragamate slotted a penalty. Five minutes later Harron added another long penalty for Harlow bringing the score to 10 – 6. Sudbury however hit back immediately with a long kick up-field which fell nicely for their chasing forwards and from the following period of play their No.7 J. Coone ran in for the try, converted by Ragamate for a 17 – 6 lead. On the 55th minute Harlow blind side flanker Robert Cochrane went off with damaged knee ligaments. He has only recently returned to the first team and was having an excellent game. Kerry Palmer came in as replacement and almost immediately Tom Webb at loose head was replaced by James Ephgrave. Sudbury made a break allowing their winger to run 60 yards for what was an almost certain try but Vanbeck cut across from the opposite wing to take him out yards short and Harlow cleared. The final quarter was really all Harlow. They had a good break when Harron chipped over the defenders and cut through to take the ball only to be obstructed. As they fought desperately to keep Harlow at bay. The home side conceded a number of penalties but not in kicking range so Harlow kicked for the corner but could not get the clean possession for a driving maul. Then finally with a kick marginally in range but only 10 minutes to go they again kicked for possession and this time got good ball for winger Vanbeck to burst through on the blind side and touch down near the corner, reducing the margin to 17 – 11. Harlow kept up the pressure and had one more chance from a penalty but needing 7 points again kicked for the corner but this time the defence held and Sudbury cleared to midfield and held on to run the clock down and clinch the win.

Harlow firsts have a break this week before they are at home to Braintree on the 14th. It will be another tough game but if the can match the performance of last Saturday it will be great to watch and they could just get a result.

Tries: Simon Vanbeck

Penalties: Lee Harron

Team List

1 -  Tom Webb   (Sub 55 mins James Ephgrave)

2 -  Stuart Wilkins
3 -  Paul Prindiville  
4 -  Darren Hawkins  
5 -  Mark Twiner 
6 -  Robert Cochrane (Sub 20 mins Kerry Palmer)  
7 -  Shaun Roberts
8 -  Paul Eynon

9 -  Charlie Woodington

10 - Lee Harron

11 - Will Grimley
12 - Gareth Powell  

13 - Luke Bowering  
14 - Simon Vanbeck
15 - Sean Banks (Sub 20 mins James McFerran)

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