Harlow 4th XV 19 Bishops Stortford 3rd XV 17

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Saturday 21st November 2009

After holding out for a home game, the 4th team faced their old opponents Stortford. As the only team at home we enjoyed the luxury of the 1st team changing room (no beer this week though.)

We began the game with the same team pretty much that had beaten Hitchin last week.  Confidence was high and people were enjoying themselves.  The pack consisted of Chris, Darren, Neal, Danny, Big Andy, Ben, Swampy, Gaggy, Rob M, Digger, John Stock and Kev.  The pack was as usual dominant for the whole game in the scrums and Gaggy took as much lineout ball as he could get his hands on.  From this base, the backs were able to move the ball quickly all over the pitch. The engine room was on full steam ahead for pretty much the whole game, Ben and Andy popping up all over the place.

Stortford elected to play downhill with the wind behind them and in the opening 15 minutes it was pretty even.  We opened the scoring when the Harlow pack took the ball against the head, Justin passed it to me and Crabby saw the huge gap which opened before him.  To set the record straight from last week, I neglected to mention Justin scoring from close range, scything through the defenders like a knife through butter. Crabby converted this one.  Stortford scored next when they created an overlap after sucking the defence in.  It was quite an even game with the Stortford backs trying to target our wingers, although the ball rarely went past the number 12.

At half time, I think Stortford were in the lead (can’t really remember).  Playing downhill with Brian Viney offering us some encouragement, Rob Spinks scored next when he went steaming down the wing scoring in the corner.  We spent a lot of time in their 22 with no reward.  Swampy scored next when he burrowed over, eventually grounding the ball under the refs eagle eyes.  He was not going to be stopped by anyone.

Crabby missed one and converted the other; Stortford had converted one of their scores.  The next try came form a messy piece of play when the young Stortford sub found a gap and set off at high velocity leaving everyone in his wake; fortunately they missed the conversion leaving us to win by the narrowest of margins.

The backs consisting of Justin, Crabby, myself, Mumbles, James, Rob Spinks, Rob Jones and the Hammer

Funny Moments- Big Dan getting a 4th team rest when Tony found out it was his birthday, and gave him a card.  Although he did “bump” into the ex-Harlow player I am led to believe.

The Stortford 12 getting spanked by the Hammer, who took his legs out from under him and left him in a crumpled heap.

Gaggy trying to stop the handbags by dragging the Stortford players off and only succeeding in winding them up more.

Neal going off to get taped up with a blood injury leaving the front row consisting of Chris, Danny and John Stock, wider than it was tall.

Mumbles getting told that if he didn’t pass it out he would be subbed.

Swampy explaining to Tracey that if you are injured you should leave the field, pot, kettle and black!!!

Danny Fitz returning to the front row, opposition hooker overjoyed to see him “ Oh **** not you again!”

COTM-The Stortford full back who called for the Mark, ran forward a couple of metres and then caught the ball about 10 seconds(perhaps more) later.

MOTM-Rob M had a great game at 8 again; Justin had a good one as well, with some quality kicking.  Hammer for his tackling.

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