Harlow 16 Beccles 25 

London League Division Two North East

5 February 2011

This bottom of the table clash at Harlow on Saturday was even closer than the scoreline implies. Having closed the game to within two points of the visitors Harlow conceded a soft try while playing a desperate game of catch up. The result however puts Harlow firmly in bottom place of the table as all three of the clubs immediately above them recorded wins on Saturday. This weekend Harlow are at home to Romford and Gidea Park in the re-scheduled game which replaces the one snowed off before Christmas. Romford are in third place in the table and in with a good chance of making the promotion playoffs, for Harlow to take points in this game would be the upset of the season.

Harlow started well and went ahead with a Dobson penalty after 8 minutes. The visitors countered and forced a penalty inside the Harlow 22. They took it quickly and Darren Hawkins tackled the ball carrier without having retreated the necessary 10 metres, earning himself a yellow card. From the retaken penalty Harlow held out the Beccles drive but a further attack from a second phase of play sore them touchdown for the try and a five points to three lead. Harlow continued to apply much of the pressure and retook the lead from a Dobson penalty on 20 minutes. Despite spending much of their time in the Beccles half they faced a determine defence but just on the point of halftime they finally broke through. Prop Danny lane drove in towards the try line before offloading to flanker Shaun Roberts who touchdown for the try, taking Harlow into the interval with an 11 points to 5 lead.

Beccles started the second half well making good use of the slope and a strong wind in their favour to keep Harlow pegged back in their own half for much of the time. Penalties on 42 and 56 minutes allowed them to level the score at 11 points each. The game continued as a cut and thrust contest until on seventy minutes Beccles were awarded a penalty close to the touch line deep in the Harlow half. They secured the ball and drove for the line before a Harlow player judging that the ball was out of the scrum dived in to clean it up. The referee awarded a further penalty and Beccles drove over the line and again Harlow tried to steal the ball but this time conceded a penalty try allowing the visitors to take an 18 points to 11 lead. In the closing minutes Harlow came back strongly twice driving the ball over the try line only to have it held up before finally Paul Eynon forced his way through for a try. Kicking into the strong wind Dobson did not have the range with the conversion from close to the touch line but Harlow had closed the gap to 16 points to 18. With only 2 minutes to go Beccles kicked deep into the Harlow half and the Rams attempted to run the ball from in front of their posts. As often happens Beccles took advantage of a handling error to touch down under the posts for a try and simple conversion in the last play of the game making the final score 25 points to 6.
 

Tries: Shaun Roberts, Paul Eynon

Conversions:  

Penalties: Michael Dobson (2)

Team List

1 -  Danny Lane

2 -  Scott Romaine

3 -  Matt Branch (Sub Paul Johnson 50 mins)

4 -  Darren Hawkins

5 -  Paul Eynon

6 -  Shaun Roberts (Sub Kerry Palmer 65 mins)

7 -  Marc Barr

8 -  Kain Claridge

9 -  Lee Harron

10 - Michael Dobson

11 - Chris Webb (Sub Chris Bates 60 mins)
12 - Luke Bowering
13 - Rhys Powell

14 - Will Grimley

15 - Rob Mackie

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