Harlow 22 Norwich 8

London League Division Two North East

30th January 2010

Read the Norwich Match Report click here

A really committed performance by Harlow on Saturday produced their fourth win on the run. The Norwich side were perhaps better than the scoreline indicates and the Harlow players had to work hard to contain them; particularly some fast movers in their backs. A combination of very determined tackling combined with continuous pressure by the Harlow pack kept the visitors under pressure while accurate goal kicking from Harlow fly half Michael Dobson kept Harlow in front for almost all the game. Finally two excellent tries in the last quarter made safe for Harlow what until then had been a closely fought contest.

Both sides started strongly and he took some good cover tackling by Harlow to prevent the Norwich winger from breaking through. Harlow countered well and put the visitors under pressure with a very good attack by their backs in which Harlow winger Rob Mackie almost broke clear. Eleven minutes into the game rucking infringement gave Dobson a shot at goal from near the Harlow 10 metre line which he slotted for a three point lead. It continued as an evenly matched contest and 10 minutes later Norwich evened the score with a penalty of their own. Harlow had two more good attacking opportunities, first a solo break by Lee Harron midfield where he almost found a gap through the defence and a few minutes later a good break by Dobson which the visitors just managed to cut off. Good Harlow pressure forced Norwich to concede another penalty which was slotted for a 6 - 3 lead but then with only a few minutes to go to half time Harlow were attacking deep in the Norwich half only to concede a penalty for offside. The visitors took full advantage finding touch inside the Harlow 22. From the line out they mounted a very good for good attack and drove their lock Cook over for a try in the corner giving them an 8 - 6 lead. The Rams suffered a setback when Harlow number eight Kain Claridge had to go off with a knee injury. Terry Blackwell came on and went into the second row with Paul Eynon taking over the No. 8 slot. Harlow responded strongly from the restart and with the last kick of the half Dobson slotted his third penalty to give Harlow a nine points to eight lead at halftime.


Despite playing up the hill Harlow started well in the second half and 10 minutes in Dobson’s slotted his fourth penalty of the afternoon to give Harlow a 12 points to 8 lead. A yellow card for Kerry Palmer at lock briefly meant that they were playing a man short but within a minute or so his opposite number in the Norwich pack warns also qualified for a 10 minute rest so the game continued at 14 aside. At the start of the final quarter Harlow finally took charge of the situation. From a breakdown near the Norwich 22 Lee Harron picked up and made a solo break, committing a defender before offloading to Paul Eynon who then fed a pass to Dobson who crashed pass the final defender to touch down for the try. The kick from a corner was short but with a 17 points to 8 lead Harlow now had the important two score margin. A few minutes later the Dobson the Harlow fly half sustained an injury in the tackle and was replaced by Simon Vanbeck. With about 9 minutes to go Harlow finally wrapped up the game, Eynon just managed to intercept a Norwich pass, juggling the ball but managing to hold onto it. He committed two defenders before offloading to Will Grimley who came in with real pace to run in a try at the corner. The conversion attempt by McFerran, taken only inches in from the touchline was just short. Norwich came back very strongly that but a very determined Harlow defended with commitment to clinch the game by a 22 points to eight.

Harlow first team have a break this weekend before travelling to Ipswich for their next league match. Ipswich have improved considerably in recent weeks and with two games in hand could overhaul Harlow in the league unless they win it; making this probably their most critical game so far in the second half of the league competition. A week later on the 20th of February Harlow are at home to bottom placed Mersea Island.

Tries: Michael Dobson, Will Grimley

Conversions:  

Penalties: Michael Dobson (4)

Team List

1 -  Paul Prindiville

2 -  Scott Romaine (Captain)
3 -  Marc Williams (Sub 40 mins Matt Branch )

4 -  Kerry Palmer 

5 -  Paul Eynon  

6 -  Shaun Roberts 
7 -  Mark Bowering

8 -  Kain Claridge (Sub 35 mins Terry Blackwell )

9 -  Lee Harron
10 - Michael Dobson (Sub 70 mins Simon Vanbeck )

11 - Rob Mackie
12 - James McFerran
13 - Luke Bowering

14 - Will Grimley

15 - Frances Brown

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