Holt 33 Harlow 3

London League Division Three North East

22nd October 2011

Harlow’s unbeaten league  record came to an end on Saturday with their visit to league leaders Holt. When they set out on the 110 mile journey to the Norfolk club they knew that it would be a very hard game to win. Harlow were slightly below strength but  on the day Holt were the better side and deserved the win although the scoreline maybe flatters them just a little. Thanks to their five previous wins Harlow hold on to second place thee points ahead of Stowmarket. However with up to 5 league points they and Norwich are within striking distance. On Saturday Harlow are at home to sixth placed Wymondham; a game they must win to keep their league challenge on track.

Harlow started well at Holt taking play deep in to their half from the kick off  and forcing three early penalties. The first two they chose to use to launch attacks through the forwards but the third was in front of the posts and Dobson slotted it for a three point lead.  For much of the first half hour Harlow continued to apply pressure the home side tackled well and when they had possession they looked dangerous.  After half an hour they secured good possession well inside the Harlow 22 and managed to force their way over for a try in the corner and a 5 – 3 lead. From the restart they secured possession and counter attacked chipping the ball over the Harlow backs and  getting the perfect bounce to take it at speed and run in a second try; this time converted for a 12 – 3 lead going into the half time interval.

The game was played in a strong crosswind and the home side made very good use on it and of the slope of the pitch to put Harlow under pressure with some very accurate tactical kicking. It meant that on a number of occasions hard won territory gained by the forwards was wasted. It was made worse by the fact that Harlow conceded too many penalties for infringements at the rucks. Ten minutes into the half a good handling move by the Holt backs gave them another converted try and with the score now at 19 – 3 a firm grip on the game. A further try fifteen minutes later really wrapped it up. In the final quarter of an hour Harlow had a much better share of the territory and for some time looked as though they might break through. With only a couple of minutes to go however the Norfolk team cleared up field and their backs took advantage of two missed tackles by Harlow to run in a final try making it 33 – 3 at the close.

As it happened:

6 mins: Penalty Michael Dobson Harlow 0-3
33 mins: Try Holt Conversion missed 5-3
35 mins: Try Holt conversion successful 12-3

Half time 12-3

50 mins: Try Holt conversion Successful 19-3
58 mins: Martin Cunningham replaced Danny Stonehouse tactical

65 mins: Try Holt conversion successful 26-3
67 mins: Aled Hills replaced Simon Vanbeck Tactical

72 mins: Josh Drake replaced Mark Bowering tactical

79 mins Try Holt conversion successful 33-3

Tries:

Conversions:  

Penalties: Micheal Dobson

Team List

1 - 

2 -  Martin Mallia

3 -  Danny Stonehouse (Sub Martin Cunningham 58 mins)

4 -  Mark Twiner

5 -  Kerry Palmer

6 -  Shaun Roberts

7 -  Mark Bowering (Sub Josh Drake 72 mins)

8 -  Darren Hawkins

9 -  Lee Harron

10 - Micheal Dobson

11 - Will Grimley
12 - Wayne Heapy
13 - Luke Bowering

14 - Simon Vanbeck (Sub Aled Hills 67 mins)

15 - Rob Mackie

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