Harlow 2nd XV 41  Dunstablians 5

Warm Up Game 

Harlow sent out a statement of intent for the coming season with a comfortable win over Dunstablians 41-5.

The game started off slowly as a battle between the forwards with lots of crash ball up the middle of the pitch only when the ball was passed out to the backs did Harlow get presented with their first scoring opportunity.  A Dunstable player dived over the top of a ruck after good hands from the backs which resulted in a penalty in Dunstable’s 22. Andy Vanston converted this which saw Harlow go up 3-0.

From the resulting kick off Harlow quickly added to this score with a well worked try which passed through nearly every players hands with Tommy Johnston finishing the move he started after excellent hands from James Hodges.  The Conversion was missed 8-0. 

Dunstable then put Harlow under a period of sustained pressure which forced Harlow back onto their own try line.  Harlow defended well but could not stop Dunstable going over to score their first and only try 8-5.

Harlow then started to calm down and started to play some good rugby.  Some good forwards play pushed Harlow into Dunstable’s 22 again where Dunstable yet again killed the ball.   A quick penalty from Jake –Kent Pope saw him go close to scoring only an infringement from Dunstable’s full back stopping him going over.  The referee realised this and awarded Harlow a penalty try which Vanston converted 15-5.

Harlow then started dictating play where they scored two tries in quick succession.  A quick turnover from a ruck was then passed out to winger James Worthington who went over for Harlow’s 3^rd try Harlow.  The second was a well-worked move from Andy Vanston and Steve Ward. Vanston saw Ward coming in off his wing and released the ball to him who then offloaded the ball well for Adam Paine to run in unopposed.  This was converted by Vanston to take the score to 27-5.

By now Harlow’s better fitness started to show as the Dunstable pack started to fade as the game wore on with Harlow turning over a lot of Dunstable’s line outs and scrums.  Both of which resulted in Harlow’s last two tries. A turnover in the scrum was picked up quickly by Johnston who run up the pitch he then passed the ball to Darren Hawkins who run in under the posts which Andy Vanston converted.  Harlow’s last try was a simple run in where a stray throw from Dunstable’s hooker was intercepted by Adam Paine who run in for his second try this was then converted by Andy Vanston to make the final score 41-5.

Tries:  Johnston, Penalty Try, Worthington, Paine (2), Hawkins.  Conversions: Vanston (4).  Penalties: Vanston.

Team from:  Clarke, Snell, Bayford, Hawkins, Todd, J.Hodges, Johnston, Burroughs, Kent-Pope, Vanston, Worthington, Spencer, L.Hodges (capt), Ward, Phillips, Webb, Twills, Knightly, Paine, Gladden

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