Romford 2nd XV 10 Harlow 2nd XV 53

Merit Table

After an unlucky start to the season Harlow have started to find their feet and managed to run in five tries in the second half to comfortably win 10-53 to record their first win of the season.

Harlow started very poorly from the first kick off of the match.   A knock on allowed Romford a scrum on Harlow’s ten-metre line to leave them in a good attacking position early on.  Romford slowly then went through their phases their larger forwards retaining the ball well to score early on to lead 5-0.  A quick penalty soon after by fly-half Bate saw Harlow earn a quick three points to make the score 5-3. 

From the outset of this match it was clear that Romford were going to keep the ball in the forwards and play a tight game instead of an expansive one with their backs hardly getting a touch of the ball but used this game plan well.  Their forwards retained the ball and used the simple crash ball to earn the hard yards for their second score to lead 10-3.

Stunned into action Harlow started to work their way through the gears and take the game back to Romford and tried to play Romford at their own game using the forwards to drive the ball up field.  Playing to Romford’s strengths Harlow struggled to make much of an impact so instead switched to playing the ball quickly out to the backs and quick offloads in the tackle.  This soon paid dividends as a simple hands move out wide saw winger Andy Vanston race past his opposite number to score.  Conversion by Bate to tie the score 10-10. 

Soon after Harlow got their second score.  A kick downfield was caught by Harlow full back Alisdair Phillips who returned the kick deep into Romford’s half.  The ball was then chased by number eight Shaun Roberts who then kicked the ball across field to be received by Vanston to score his second try.  Again this was converted by Bate to see Harlow lead 10-17 at half time.

In the second half Harlow used the same game plan and kept the ball alive.  Good offloads in the tackle area by the Harlow’s forwards saw them stretch Romford’s defence to leave them on the back foot.  The ball was then passed out to fly half Ian Bate whose excellent distribution found full back Alisdair Phillips joining the line for him to score four tries in quick succession.  Bate converted three of these to see Harlow race into a 10-43 lead.

By then it was a pretty one-sided contest.  The fitter Harlow pack dominating the larger, slower Romford pack their excellent ball carrying ensured the backs had an excellent platform from which to attack.  Whenever Romford had the ball Harlow’s back row of Delgrecco, Hawkins and Roberts where always on hand to turnover possession and set up Harlow’s attack once more.  A half break by the impressive Phillips saw him offload the ball to winger Wayne Heapy in support who shrugged off a defender to race through from halfway to score out wide to extend Harlow’s lead 10-48.

It was fitting for Harlow after last weekends narrow loss to Woodford that with the last play of the match they scored their final try.  Again with the forwards creating the space for Harlow’s backs to work the ball went through every pair of backs hands for Vanston to make a break only to stopped just outside Romford’s 22.   A pop back inside to substitute Lee Hodges in support saw him dummy his opposite number for a simple run in from the 22 metre line to put the gloss on a fine second half performance winning 10-53.

Team:  Fitz, Mallia, Williams, Palmer (capt), J.Hodges, Delgrecco, Hawkins, Roberts, Dunn, Bate, Vanston, Stradling (L.Hodges), McKinley, Heapy, Phillips.

Tries:  Vanston (2), Phillips (4), Heapy, L.Hodges

Conversions: Bate (5)

Penalty: Bate

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