Woodford 38 Harlow 7 - To view more match reports - click here

London & South East   Div II  North

Harlow finished their league campaign at Woodford with a disappointing score line. For three quarters of the game they fought hard to keep in contact with the home side but two tries late in the game produced a margin which could so easily have been smaller. The Harlow forwards performed well throughout the game, taking good lineout ball and getting the best of a number or rolling mauls. Harlow skipper Paul Eynon playing at No 8 scored the Rams try picking up from the base of the scrum and bouncing a couple of defenders off his shoulder as he went for the line. He was also unlucky not to get a second coming off a rolling maul but being prevented from grounding the ball.

In the backs a number of Harlow players performed well but the deciding factor was that Woodford had a quality three-quarter line who have played together and linked very well. For Harlow however injuries and a shortage of good backs means that they take to the field with a different lineup every week. On Saturday it showed, Woodford had great coordination in attacks and communicated well to firm a tight defensive line when Harlow countered. Jake Kent-Pope from the colts made his league debut at scrum half and preformed well under pressure; on this showing he could be a serious contender for a regular place next season.

Harlow started well from the kick off and took play into the Woodford half and for the first ten minutes it looked as if the game would be close. When the home side did break out however too many Harlow players were sucked in giving the winger an easy run in to the corner. A penalty extended the lead and they near the end of the half a converted try and another penalty put the game almost out of reach at 18 – 0

In the second half an early converted try extended the lead before Eynon countered with the Harlow try and Dunn slotted the conversion. Pressure from the Harlow forwards produced hope but no points and then in the final minutes Woodford finished with a flourish.

Team:  Gary Brown, Scott Romaine, Alan Yates,  Darran Hawkins, Paul Scott , Matthew Todd, Scott Thorne,  Paul Eynon (Captain), Jake Kent-Pope, Darren Dunn, Steve Ward, Gareth Powell,  Ian Rundall,  Simon Vanbeck, Keith Handscombe,  Stephen Lakin, James Pope, Steven McClarnon

Try: Paul Eynon.  Conversion: Darren Dunn.

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