Enfield Ignations 3 Harlow 22

Half time 0 - 15

London League Division Two North East

19th September 2009

Harlow played excellent rugby to win this match convincingly and put themselves in sixth position it the league. Injures to Director of Rugby Lee Harron, who sustained a nasty 4inch gash on his forehead , Kane Claridge , shoulder, and James Ephgrave , shoulder.  cause concerns for their next league game  which is next week . Centre Simon Vanbeck also had to be replaced when he injured ligaments in  his ankle in the first twenty minutes. Considering   the list of players already unfit the Rams will be working hard to restore players’  fitness.

The Harlow performance was based  on a much improved defence the tackling throughout a very positive feature. The team spirit was also apparent and the Rams fought for every loose ball and competed in  the set pieces holding  their own in the  scrummages against a bigger pack. They  also  disrtupted  the home side’s scrummages and Hawkins and Twiner dominated the lineouts.

The Rams took the lead after only seven minutes with  a well struck penalty by full back Rob Mackie. The Vice Captain also played a part in Harlow’s first try two minutes later. Mackie made progress down  the  wing and passed to Skipper Scott Romaine who  crossed the line,. Mackie then converted from wide out..

Within minutes Van beck had to retire with an ankle injury to be replaced by Shaun Roberts and Harlow found themselves having to defend.  Dan Hockley on the wing played his man out of the game with  some destructive tackling as did centre Luke Bowering.

Harlow worked themselves into the Enfield  twenty two  and  the pack set up a rolling maul which  stopped just short of the line but fly half Stradling took the ball at  pace and scored a try, unconverted..  As a consequence the home side were reduced to  long range  penalty attempts from the half way line and were unlucky to  hit the crossbar.  Harlow led by 15-0 at half time.

Enfield started the second half well and fly half Moore kicked a penalty to reduce the deficit. Harlow were forced  to  replace Kane Claridge at the beginning of the half..  Ephgrave then left the pitch   to be  replaced by Danny Stonehouse

Some good work by Mackie and  Hockley  down the wing almost lead to a try and Harron also came  close  with a kick forward  but was stopped unfairly  by a late tackle.

The Rams now mounted a series of attacks on the Enfield line. The home side gave away several  penalties and  with their defence  drawn in  Stradling’s long pass found Luke Bowering who stepped through  the gap with ease to score. Mackie had another good conversion. The home side worked hard to get into Harlow territory but the Rams defence kept them out. Indeed it was Harlow who looked more likely to score. A rapid interchange of passes between Hockley and Grimley took them within five metres of the goal line but the Rams could not quite finish it off. There were no further scores and Harlow had a achieved a sound victory.

Tries: David Stradling, Scott Romaine, Luke Bowering

Conversions:  Rob Mackie (2)

Penalties: Rob Mackie

Team List

1 -  James Ephgrave (Sub Danny Stonehouse 50 mins)

2 -  Stuart Wilkins
3 -  Paul Prindiville
4 -  Darren Hawkins
5 -  Mark Twiner
6 -  Wayne Morgan

7 -  Scott Romaine (Captain)
8 -  Kain Claridge (Sub Paul Eynon 40 mins)
9 -  Lee Harron

10 - David Stradling
11 - Will Grimley
12 - Simon Vanbeck  (Sub Shaun Roberts 10 mins)
13 - Luke Bowering  
14 - Dan Hockley
15 - Rob Mackie

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