Barking 2nd XV 66 Harlow 2nd XV 0

Essex Cup - Final

Harlow seconds showed great spirit and determination against a totally dominant opposition Saturday losing 66-0 to Barking in the 2^nd XV cup final.

The scoreline suggests a poor performance but Harlow played in fact what was one of their best matches this season against opposition whose first team play in the National League, two below the premiership, and beat Brentwood 1^st team (In the same league as Harlow 1^st) 41-0 in a preseason friendly.

In the set piece situations such as the scrum and lineout Harlow actually looked the better of the two teams.  The front row of Ball, Mallia, and Lane played excellently throughout matching their counterparts scrum for scrum and in the lineout a special mention must go to second row Twinner who demonstrated his continual improvement winning clean ball and even winning some of Barking’s lineouts against the head.

However it was to be in open play that Barking excelled.  On a wide dry pitch the conditions were ideally suited to running rugby which Barking grasped at every opportunity.  Their forwards and backs linked well in attack drawing in Harlow players and ensuring that Harlow remained continually on the back foot.  Harlow defended well in spite of this however but Barking were just to well drilled and made Harlow pay for any lapses in concentration often resulting in a try.

It was not to be all one way traffic however leading from the front skipper Shaun Roberts and fellow back rowers McKinley and Eynon were often involved in most of what was good in Harlow’s attacking play making good yards.  The back three of Ward, Webb and Phillips made good contributions with their pace and use of their boots to try and muster some sort of territory but it was just not to be Harlow’s day who despite the result can hold their heads up high after a gritty performance as excellent ambassadors of Harlow Rugby Club and their town.

Team:

1. Danny Lane

2. Martin Mallia

3. Chris Ball

4. Kerry Palmer (Sub Ben Branch 70 mins)

5. Mark Twinner

6. Paul Eynon (Sub Ross Delgreco 70 mins)

7. Rickey Mckinley

8. Shaun Roberts (Captain)

9. Neil Fitzpatrick

10. Andrew Vanston

11. Steven McClarnon (Sub Chris Webb 10 mins)

12. Lee Hodges (Sub Jake Kent-Pope 20 mins)

13. Wayne Heapy

14. Steve Ward

15. Alasdair Phillips

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