Romford & Gidea Park 17 Harlow 15

London League Division Two North East

10th April 2010

Harlow lost to Romford on Saturday in the closest of games. Having lost to them 32 – 7 at the start of the season it is a clear indication of how much the Rams have improved in the second half of the season. I leaves them in 8th place in the league with a chance of moving up to seventh if they can take the points against Saffron Walden this Saturday, the only outstanding game in the league.

Harlow started strongly taking play into the Romford half and forcing them to defend their line for the first five minutes. On nine minutes the breakthrough came when Francis Brown the Harlow fullback came into the line and weaved his way past three defender to be stopped about 8 yards short of the try line. He flicked the ball to No. 8 Claridge who was running in support and he touched down for the try; Dobson’s conversion making it 7 – 0 to Harlow. For the next quarter of an hour it was a close battle with Harlow still having the best of the play. A break by lock forward Eynon saw him stopped just short and then a run by Vanbeck on the left wing was stopped only three paces short of the line. The on 23 minutes another good running move put winger Rob Mackie clear for the try in the corner giving Harlow a 12 – 0 lead. Romford countered almost immediately with an unconverted try from their centre Wilkinson and the score remained at 12 – 5 till half time.

Romford started the second half strongly and scored another unconverted try through their inside centre Crawley. Given a penalty 3 minutes later Harlow opted to go for points and Dobson slotted his kick for a 15 - 10 lead. On 50 minutes an attacking drive by the Romford pack saw their lock Washbourne in for a try converted by fly half Gilmore. For the first time Romford were in the lead by 17 points to 15. In the remaining thirty minutes Harlow had a number of good attacking moves but were kept out be a well organised Romford defensive line. With three minutes to go they had a chance form a penalty but the strong crosswind took Dobson’s kick just wide of the upright and the home side held on for the win.

Tries: Kain Claridge , Rob Mackie

Conversions: Micheal Dobson

Penalties: Micheal Dobson

Team List

1 -  Paul Prindiville

2 -  Scott Romaine (Captain)
3 -  Danny Lane  

4 -  Kerry Palmer 

5 -  Paul Eynon  

6 -  Shaun Roberts 
7 -  Mark Bowering

8 -  Kain Claridge

9 -  Lee Harron

10 - Micheal Dobson

11 - Simon Vanbeck
12 - James McFerran
13 - Luke Bowering

14 - Rob Mackie

15 - Francis Brown

Subs not used: Marc Williams Danny Smith

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