Harlow Ladies 10 New Ash Green 0 (16th March 2008)

Harlow Ladies braved a bitter cold day and a very wet muddy pitch to take on New Ash Green on Sunday. It is a credit to both sides that they produced an exciting and hard fought game. Despite the conditions it was a pleasure to see all thirty players thoroughly enjoying their rugby.

The visitors were the lighter side and had one or two fast players and it is a tribute to the commitment in defence of the Harlow squad that they never really came close to scoring. In these conditions control of the ball in the forwards is essential and the Harlow pack performed very well at the breakdown securing a good share of the possession for their own backs and making sure that when the visitors did get the ball away they were static or being driven back.

In the first half Harlow had one or two early chances from the driving maul but were unable to make the line. A twice they released the ball to the blind side but the Ash Green cover was good. It was half way through the session that they spun the ball wide on the open side and Kim Hunter on the wing went in for the try. In the latter part of the half the visors had one good break by their wing taking them to half way and then a second which made it to the Harlow 22 before the home backs cut across to take the ball carrier into touch. Harlow controlled the closing minutes mid field to turn around with their 5 point lead.

With the slope now in their favour Harlow dominated the second session keeping the visitors in their own half for almost the entire game and for much of it in their own 22. The forwards provided plenty of good possession but a wet muddy ball and a greasy pitch made good running difficult. A number of good attacks with Diprose, McClarnon, Hodges and Conway featuring strongly put Ash Green under pressure but with it so difficult to move the ball out quickly they were able to hold their ground. In the closing minutes a good run by Conway was stopped only 8 years short and then a couple of minutes later Harlow were awarded a scrum wide out towards the right touchline. Scrum half Nicky King signaled for Conway to move wide for the blind side break. From the scrum King made a short solo run committing the one defender before offloading to Rebecca Conway at full speed allowing her to outpace the final defender and touch down in the corner. A Harlow kept up the pressure in the closing minutes for a well deserved victory.

Tries: Kym Hunter, Rebecca Conway.

Team:

Kelly Cotterill (Capt.) Kym Hunter, Sam Acraman, Keighley Diprose, Claire Lacey, Sarah McCarthy, Rebecca Hodges, Rebecca Conway, Nichola King, Carla Marshall, Natalie McClarnon, Lou Micklewright, Lou Stewart, Amanda Harris, Charlotte Wardall.

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