Chelmsford 18 Harlow 25

Merit Table

Harlow seconds showed their bouncebackabilty from their first league loss against Upminster a fortnight ago with a solid victory over Chelmsford II this weekend.

They responded with one of their best defensive performances of the season with Harlow’s quick backs finishing off the chances provided to them by the forwards. However Harlow’s lack of ability to kill a game off nearly cost them with the score line hardly reflecting their dominance of the game.

Chelmsford started brightly pinning Harlow into their 22 for the first 5 minutes of the game until they knocked the ball forward, making full use of the advantage the ball was passed out to the backs where centre L.Hodges switched with Rundall who returned the pass leaving a two on one with the Chelmsford winger.  L.Hodges then passed out to Ward who broke through before chipping the ball over the last man.  Odell making his debut for the Seconds then collected the ball to score the first try of the match.  Ford missed the conversion to make the score 5-0.

Again Chelmsford tried to punch holes through the middle of the park but the forwards superb defending kept them at bay until a lack of discipline conceded a penalty in front of the posts, which was brought forward by the referee for dissent.  The Chelmsford fly- half then kicked the penalty to make it 5-3.

Harlow then started taking the initiative and the forwards started to punch upfield with Summers and Palmer making notable contributions on the crash ball which then enabled Westbrook to make a darting run into Chelmsford’s 22.    Quick recycled ball was then used well by Ford who then dummy switched with both centres before making the pass to Worthington who scored in the corner to make the score 10-3.

Harlow continued their domination by camping in Chelmsford’s half for much of the remaining half.  Only Chelmsford’s resolute defending keeping them in the game it was only with 5 minutes to go of the first half that Harlow finally managed to unlock the Chelmsford defence.  Again it was solid work from the forwards who provided the opportunity playing quick ball from the base of a ruck which passed through every set of backs hands to Ward who showed a good turn of speed to beat his marker who ran in from the half way line to make it 15-3 with 3 minutes to go. 

With all the hard work done and 3 minutes to go Harlow grew complacent and a good move from Chelmsford’s forwards put them in the corner to leave it 15-8 at the break.

Chelmsford seemed to come out in the second half like a different team showing lots of aggression up front and slowly made their way into Harlow’s half; only a penalty by Ford kept the score ticking over to make it 18-3.  Chelmsford from the following kick off tried to kick over the top of Harlow’s defence but was caught by replacement Simon Vanbeck who drew in his man before passing to Westbrook who then took the ball up to Chelmsford’s 10 metre line.  Some good running by Hawkins, Matthews and Clarke left Harlow in Chelmsford’s 22 where the ball was then passed through about 6 sets of hands before Vanbeck showing good strength finished off the move he started.  Ford kicked the subsequent conversion to make the score 25-8.

Again after having a cushion of 17 points with 15 minutes to go Harlow grew sloppy and a yellow card for Summers suddenly galvanised Chelmsford who then used the advantage of an extra man in the forwards well by crashing over the line to make the score 25-13.  Suddenly the game was back on and it was Harlow who then had to defend much of the rest of the game in their 22.  They defended well until too many defenders got sucked in and a neat move from the Chelmsford backs saw them go over to make the score 25-18 which made for a nervous finish but Harlow held on to take the victory 25-18 and remain at the top of the table.

Team: Bayford (J.Hodges 40 mins), Snell, Clarke, Hawkins, Palmer (Capt), Summers, Martin, Matthews, O’Dell (Vanbeck 40Mins), Ford, Ward,  L.Hodges (Guthrie 70mins), Rundall, Worthington, Westbrook.  Replacements not used: Twilly

Tries:  O’dell, Worthington, Ward, Vanbeck Conversions: Ford (1) Penalties: Ford (1)

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