Hemel Hempsted 82 Harlow 5

Intermediate Cup 2nd Round

31st October 2009

Harlow were completely swamped in their cup tie by a Hemel Hempstead side who were well organized well drilled and above all determined to win. Although Harlow had a number of players missing the causing them to use alternatives and meaning that a number played out of position it does not justify the scoreline this large. Harlow had an improvised pack as a result of player absences, made worse by injuries during the game. Unfortunately they came up against a well drilled pack which has been able to dominate in all of the game played so far this season. The other department in which Harlow could not muster an answer was in defence against attacks midfield as the game progressed the home side were able to break through with very little risk of being stopped. The only good news from a Harlow point of view was that several of their long-term injured players returned for at least part of the game and will hopefully be available in future games. For Francis Brown playing at centre it was the first time on the rugby field since she broke his leg in the opening game of the season at Chelmsford 15 months ago. Having Simon Vanbeck and James McFerran back in action is also potentially an advantage for future. To capitalise on this however Harlow must look very seriously at their team organization and strategy.

To all intents and purposes the game was decided in the first 20 minutes. Hemel Hempstead ran in four good tries, two of them as a result of interception ball arising from carelessly delivered Harlow passes. The problem was compounded on 20 minutes when Kain Claridge had to come off to be replaced by Mark Bowering, leaving Harlow without a specialist No 8. In the remainder of the first half hemel Hempstead manage to run in three more tries to turn round with a 39 points to nil lead.

At the interval James McFerran replace David Stradling at fly half and Stuart Wilkins took over from Scott Romaine at hooker. During the third quarter Hemel Hempstead ran in four more tries the first of them it almost immediately from the kick off. On 60 minutes Simon Vanbeck came on to replace an injured James Ephgrave. The pack had rearranged and he took over at flanker slot and considering he was playing very much out of position put in a reasonable performance. In the final quarter they ran in three more tries before Harlow finally managed to get onto the scoreboard when Will Grimley ran in a try. It was not over however, Hemel ran in one more try taking the final score to 82 points to 5.

Next Saturday Harlow are at home to Ipswich in their resumed league campaign. The visitors are one place below them in the league on the basis of points difference; a defeat for Harlow would put them very much into the danger zone. It will be a strong test of character for the whole team to turn last weekend’s results around and to put out a competitive side in a game which until very recently one would have assumed they could certainly win.

Tries: Will Grimley

Conversions:  

Penalties:

Team List

1 -  Martin Cunningham

2 -  Scott Romaine (Captain) (Sub Stuart Wilkins 40 mins)
3 -  Matt Branch

4 -  Kerry Palmer  

5 -  James Ephgrave (Sub Simon Vanbeck 60 mins)
6 -  Shaun Roberts 
7 -  James Clark 

8 -  Kain Claridge (Sub Mark Bowering 20 mins)
9 -  Lee Harron
10 - David Stradling (Sub James McFerran 40 mins) 
11 - Will Grimley
12 - Francis Brown  
13 - Luke Bowering  

14 - Dan Hockley
15 - Rob Mackie

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