Harlow 7  Hadleigh 24

Powergen London & South East Div II North

This was always going to be a tough match, but for having pointes deducted for fielding an ineligible player Hadleigh would be on equal points with Letchworth who are third in the league. It was a disappointing game for Harlow in as much as they had scoring chances and played much of the game well into the Hadleigh half. For Hadleigh tries two came from break a ways totally against the run of play. Perhaps for Harlow the good news is that despite a long injury list they were able to field a respectable side who were not outclassed. This is due to the great revival this year by the second team who are undefeated and heading their merit table. Unlike last year it means the firsts have match fit players to call on when they are needed.  Ian Rundall moved up to make his league debut at centre and showed that he was well worth selection particularly in making hard yards when taking on the opposition in the tackle. Stuart Wilkins at hooker and Steve Burroughs at No. 8 also made a strong impact on the game.

Harlow started strongly playing uphill and established a series of attacks in the Hadleigh 22. The Harlow pack were very strong at this stage disrupting the opposition ball in the set scrums and driving forward in the loose. Most of the first quarter was played here but despite a good drive for the line by Paul Eynon and several half breaks by fly half Ben Jarvis the rams were unable to cross the line. Finally too many players got sucked in allowing Hadleigh the overlap to run in a 60 yards try and conversion for a seven nil lead. A second break out a few minutes later allowed them to extend their lead to 12 points. For the rest of the half Harlow continued to hold the visitors in the pack but it was clear they had the edge in the backs both defensively and in terms of pace, Just before half time Harlow were penalized allowing Hadleigh to set up play in the home 22. From a breakdown close to the line the powered over for their third try making it 0 – 19 at half time.

With the slope in their favour in the second half Harlow continued to make good ground. The game was however spoiled as entertainment by very heavy rain making the surface slippery and the ball difficult to handle. For most of the half it was a dour cut and thrust affair with neither side looking like scoring. With 15 minutes to go Harlow spirits were lifted when blind side flanker Robert Cochrane latched onto a pass thirty yards out and charged for the corner proving much too strong for the winger marking him. Gary Stanley landed the conversion from the corner, a great kick into driving rain. Harlow continued to apply pressure but were kept out particularly by some good clearance kicking by the visitors. In the closing minutes a final try by the visitors extended the lead to 7 – 24.

Team: Simon Vanbeck, Gary Stanley, Ian Rundall, James McFerran, Lee Smith, Ben Jarvis, Sean  Roth, Alan Yates, Stuart Wilkins, Gary  Brown, James Grover, Paul Eynon, Robert Cochrane, Stephen Lakin ( sub Scott Romaine 70), Steven Burroughs (sub Paul Scott 65),

Replacement not used: Nick Ford

Try: Robert Cochrane

Conversion: Gary Stanley

Next weekend Harlow are away to Civil Service who are in ninth place in the league. Over half their points have come from their place kicker who has the second highest tally in the league. Harlow discipline will have to be good. In this league home advantage is worth a lot so the Rams will have to work hard for the points; it is however the kind of game they need to win to compensate for missed opportunities earlier in the season.

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