Harlow 27 Canvey Island 10

Pre Season Friendly

5th September 2009

Harlow produced a convincing win in their final warm up game before they start their league campaign.  They ran in five good tries including a hat trick from Simon Vanbeck, playing at centre as opposed to his more usual position on the wing.  They had a number of additional scoring opportunities but, largely as a result of them experimenting  with player positions and choices communication was not quite right and the opposition were able to block them.  Although the forwards performed very well in the first half it was the backs who produced the real excitement.  Within 5 minutes Vanbeck had broken clear to power his way over in the corner for the first of his three tries. Seven minutes later Luke Bowering added a further try again from a good running and handling movement.  On 20 minutes Harlow produced what they would certainly consider to be the try of the match. A good attack moved the ball through several pairs of hands to Bowering on the wing.  He drove towards the corner and had a good chance of scoring himself but with Vanbeck running in support and with more space he made an excellent inside pass allowing the centre to run in his second try.  Vanbeck rounded the half off by completing his hat trick so that the sides turned round with Harlow 20 nil in front.

In the second half Harlow made a number of changes in terms of positions and personnel as did the visitors.  Although Harlow continued to mount good attacking moves Canvey were now much better able to defend them and the tries just did not come.  Perhaps one of the better features of the game for a Harlow Point of view was the much more positive tackling.  The visitors made a number of breaks which on last season’s form could well have got through  but positive tackling made sure that the Harlow line was not breached.  The game was rounded off in style when fullback Rob Mackie came into the line, made a good break and brushed aside his opposite number to touch down under the posts.  Sean Banks converted for a final score of 27 - 0.

This Saturday Harlow start their league campaign at home to Romford and Gidea Park kicking off at 3.00 PM.  Romford always bring a strong side and although the pre-season games have gone very well for Harlow they will need to lift their performance a touch further if they’re to have a good chance of taking the points.

Tries: Simon Vanbeck (3), Luke Bowering, Rob Mackie

Conversions:  Rob Mackie

Team List

1 -  Danny Stonehouse (Sub Paul Prindiville 50 mins)

2 -  Stuart Wilkins
3 -  James Ephgrave
4 -  Mark Twinner
5 -  Darren Hawkins
6 -  James Clark (Sub Chris Davies 60 mins)
7 -  Scott Romaine

8 -  Shaun Roberts (Sub Chris Poon 59 mins)

9 -  Neil Fitzpatrick

10 - Lee Harron
11 - Sean Banks
12 - Simon Vanbeck
13 - Luke Bowering

14 - Charlie Woodington

15 - Rob Mackie

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