Harlow 34 Stowmarket 31

London League Division Three North East

24th September 2011

Harlow Rugby Club Senior teams produce a clean sweep for the second week in succession.

For the second week in succession all three Harlow senior teams played and won. The overall results were:
1st XV 34 Stowmarket 31
Rams XV 22 Honorable Artillery Company 15
Saints XV 36 Shelford IV 19

The firsts beat a good Stowmarket side in the closest finish possible while the Rams having had their merit table opposition withdraw at the last minute won a friendly against the Honorable Artillery Company. The Saints remain undefeated after a convincing win over Shelford IV in the Greene King Merit Table Premier Division. This weekend the 1st XV are away to Newmarket in the league, the Rams are at home to Basildon II, KO 3pm, and the Saints are away to Saffron Walden III.

Harlow 34 Stowmarket 31

London League Division Three North East

Harlow found mid-table Stowmarket a tough side to beat on Saturday and it was only a well struck penalty from the final kick of the match which clinched it. The visitors were fit and had some real speed in the squad. Harlow showed that they could score tries and made sure of a bonus point by running in four by half-time. It was defensive lapses which made the game much harder than it should have been. Missed tackles were responsible for at least two of the tries which kept the visitors in the game.

The visitors started very strongly and in the opening minutes Harlow had to defend against a good attacking play with the ball in hand. On seven minutes they forced their way deep into the Harlow 22 and touched down for a try a under the posts, converted for a seven nil lead. For several minutes they continued to put pressure on Harlow before they settled and began to get a grip on the game. A good break by the Harlow backs saw Winger Werner Kotze break clear and outpace the defence before cutting in near to the posts. Fly Half Danny Smith converted to level the score. On 21 minutes Harlow took the lead when Danny Smith chipped for the corner and winger Will Grimley followed up at pace to take the ball and out run his opposite number to touch down in the corner for a 12 – 7 lead. On the half hour another kick for the corner produce a try, this time with Smith following his own kick and catching his own kick to cut in for the touchdown and then to convert it for a 19 – 7 lead. Three minutes before half time Stowmarket broke out for a converted try but in the closing seconds Harlow hit back when Kotze took a good pass to totally outpace the defence for his second try. Smith converted for a Harlow lead of 26 – 14 at the interval.

In the first ten minutes another try from Grimley from good distribution by the backs briefly extended the lead before the visitors hit back with one of their own; 31 – 19! At the start of the final quarter they ran in another taking it to 31- 24 and it was clear the final 20 minutes would be close fought. On 77 minutes the Harlow pack set up a series of rucks in front of the posts and looked as if they would score. Harlow attempted to release their backs but an interception pass allowed the Stowmarket centre to sprint the length of the pitch to touch down under the posts. The conversion made it 31 points each. Unfortunately in the rucks one of the Stowmarket players had sustained a neck injury and it was decided not to move him until the ambulance arrived. After some time the game resumed on the other pitch where the second team match had just finished. With so much depending on it Lee Harron came on, deciding to take responsibility for any key decisions himself. With the clock running down Harlow set up a ruck about 20 yards out for the Stowmarket line. Harron urged his forwards to continue with the set and ruck tactics which paid off when the visitors were penalised for coming in from the side. Danny Smith slotted the penalty with the final kick if the match for a most important Harlow win.

On this Saturday Harlow are away to bottom of table Newmarket. This however could be a very hard game. Although without a win they have scored an average of 20points per game from their three matches so far and have taken a bonus point from each of them. It is early to judge but after three league weekends the division is looking as if it could be a very close contest. Harlow have started well with three wins but two of them were too close for comfort. Looking at the results so far there does not seem to be any easy games coming up. The good news is that on last Saturday they produced five quality tries and an exciting game of rugby. This should bring the spectators back to Ram Gorse.

Tries: Werner Kotze (2), Will Grimley (2), Danny Smith.
Conversions: Danny Smith (3).
Penalty: Danny Smith.

As it happened:

7 mins try from Stowmarket successfully converted 0-7
17 mins try Harlow Werner Kotze (11) successfully converted by Danny Smith (10) 7-7
21 mins Try Harlow Will Grimley (14) 12-7 conversion missed
30 mins Try and successful conversion Harlow Danny Smith (10) 19-7
37 mins Try Stowmarket
Conversion successful 19-14
39 mins Try Harlow Werner Kotze (11)
Conversion successful by Danny Smith (10) 26-14

Half Time
47mins Try Harlow Will Grimley (14) 31-14 conversion missed
49 mins ?? Try Stowmarket 31-19 conversion missed
58 mins Try Stowmarket 31-24 conversion missed
51mins Michael Dobson replaced Luke Bowering due to injury
60 mins Stowmarket number 20 Yellow carded
73 mins Try Stowmarket 31-31 conversion successful
Game stopped due to a player from Stowmarket sustaining a neck injury and having to move onto a new pitch to continue
74 mins ?? Lee Harron replaced Charlie Woodington tactical
79 mins ??? last kick off game Danny Smith (10) successfully kicked a penalty 34 -31
 

Tries: Wernez Kotze (2), Will Grimley (2), Danny Smith

Conversions:  Danny Smith (3)

Penalties: Danny Smith

Team List

1 -  David Roze

2 -  Martin Mallia

3 -  Martin Cunningham

4 -  Mark Twiner

5 -  Kerry Palmer

6 -  Shaun Roberts

7 -  Mark Bowering

8 -  Adam Bishop

9 -  Charlie Woodington (Sub Lee Harron 74 mins)

10 - Danny Smith

11 - Will Grimley
12 - Simon Vanbeck
13 - Luke Bowering (Sub Michael Dobson 51 mins)

14 - Wernez Kotze

15 - Rob Mackie

Sub not used: Paul Prindiville

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