Cheshunt II 3 Harlow II 6

Friendly

It was a battle of the boot at Cheshunt on Saturday in what was a decidedly scrappy contest in front of a hostile crowd.  But Harlow managed to grind out another win when on any other day they should have won comfortably.

Missing several key players and people playing out of position it seemed that Harlow had there minds fixed on the England game afterwards and not the game in hand.  This was clearly evident as within the first 5 minutes they could easily have been 5-0 down when a basic hands move from Cheshunt’s backs released their winger.  It was only good covering tackles from Harlow’s backs that denied them the first scoring opportunity. Unfortunately it was much of the same for almost the entire first half with Cheshunt’s fly-half using his boot well to keep Harlow pinned into their own half.  Harlow however did manage to defend superbly and keep Cheshunt out for the first half leaving the score 0-0 at the break.

The second half was almost a carbon copy of the first with Cheshunt’s fly-half keeping Harlow pinned in their own half.  As there was no way through Harlow’s defence they decided to kick for the points which they converted for them to take the lead 3-0.  With memories of the 3-0 Ilford defeat still fresh in mind Harlow started to finally wake up.  Some good forwards play pushed Harlow into Cheshunt’s half who deliberately pulled down a rolling maul leaving Harlow with a kickable penalty that Nick Ford converted to tie the score at 3-3. 

Harlow’s revival stuttered somewhat near the end of the second half when an injury to Don Smale reduced the visitors to only 14 men with 10 minutes to go.  Harlow quickly regained possession however with Martin Edwards putting their fly-half under increasing pressure who then could no longer use his kicking game keeping the match poised in the middle of the pitch.  With a matter of minutes to go Cheshunt conceded a penalty for not releasing the ball right on the half way line.  Harlow decided to go for the points and a massive kick from Nick Ford saw the ball sail through the posts for Harlow to take the win 3-6.  Next up is a league match at home to Eton Manor where Harlow will need to step up a few gears if they wish to take another victory from a team with nothing to lose.

Team:  Clarke, Snell, Bayford, Palmer (CAPT), Smale, Martin, Todd, Edwards, Odell, Ford, Worthington, L.Hodges, Rundell, Summers, Ward.

Penalties: Ford (2)

To view more match reports - click here