Rochford 0  Harlow 7 (To view more match reports - click here)

BL Essex Merit Table Div I

Harlow managed to grind out their fifth consecutive win on Saturday and maintain their assault on the league title.  However, Harlow will need to seriously improve on this performance if they hope to win the their next league game against rivals Campion.

With key players missing yet again due to call ups and injuries Harlow showed great resilience and determination to keep Rochford at bay who controlled much of the first half.  Rochford played very intelligently in the first half playing territorially to keep Harlow pinned in their own half.  For all their possession Rochford flattered to deceive and never really looked like scoring.  Harlow under increasing pressure defended superbly until half time 0-0 at the break.

Rochford again came at Harlow in the second half this time trying to attack Harlow’s back line.  But Harlow’s three-quarters were in an uncompromising mood putting Rochford under increasing pressure forcing mistakes to turn the ball over.  With the clock ticking and Harlow desperate for a result they finally started to play with some conviction marching slowly into Rochford’s half.  With Rochford’s backs starting to run out of ideas Harlow capitalised on this and started to spin the ball out to their own backs where an incisive run from Polkinghorn took him close to scoring.  Harlow’s next opportunity came from a break from Kain Claridge who made a lovely break avoiding two tackles from the halfway line only to be stopped on Rochfords’ twenty-two.  The resulting scrum ended up with Harlow’s only try of the game. 

Rochford’s pack won the scrum only for the ball to shoot out from underneath their no. 8’s feet.  Worthington showing a great moment of opportunism was the first to react who scooped up the ball to score.  Colt Andre, making his first 2^Nd team start slotted the conversion to make the score 0-7.

Harlow, with the pressure off, then kept hold of the ball well using the forwards to slowly take the ball up field to wind the clock down for a gritty win.

Team: Williams (P.Claridge 65mins), Snell (Capt), Clarke, K.Claridge, Hovell, Summers, J.Hodges, Andre, Guthrie, Bate (Keeling 25mins), McClarnon, L.Hodges, Polkinghorne, Worthington, Ward.

Tries: Worthington Conversion: Andre

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