Being drawn against the bottom team in the division Harlow might have been expected to win on Saturday. Most supporters were optimistic about achieving the four tries necessary for the bonus point but few would have predicted the extent to which Harlow dominated the game to run in 12 tries. Dan Smith was also in excellent form with the boot converting 11 of them despite the fact that several were out close to the touchline. To their credit East London worked hard throughout the game and in the second half when they had the advantage of the slope were able to take play into the Harlow half with a combination of good running and tactical kicking and twice got onto the score board. Right from the start Harlow made use of a very good dry pitch to play a fast and open handling game. Tries came from both forwards and backs but above all it was the sheer pace at which Harlow played the game which left the visitors struggling.

Harlow were immediately on the attack from the start of the game and within 5 minutes recorded their first try, a great move with the ball passing through several pairs of hands before the acceleration of Alistair Feasey allowed him to rip through the defence and touch down. Dan Smith converted for a Seven points to nil lead.

 

Six minutes later it was the Harlow forwards who went on the rampage allowing Kain Claridge to dive past the final defender to touch down close to the posts and again Smith was on target. With a quarter game gone it was again Feasey who broke loose and touched down taking the score to 19 points to nil; Danny Smith’s only conversion miss of the whole afternoon.

 

On 24 minutes if Harlow were awarded an easily kickable penalty inside the East London 22. However with three tries already on the board and the chance of ensuring the bonus point for four tries they opted for a scrum. The ball went through a couple of phases of play before it went out to Will Grimley on the wing who’s pace took him clear of the remaining defenders and allowed him to coast in and touch down for the converted try. When 5 minutes later Smith found himself in a good attacking position he decided on a solo break for rather than distributing the ball and touched down for a try under the posts taking the score to 33 points to nil once he had slotted the simple conversion. On the point of halftime the forwards again broke loose and Claridge produced a replica of his first try which with the conversion made the score 40 points to nil at the turnaround.

In the second half East London were almost immediately on to the attack from the kick off taking play deep into the Harlow 22. The home side defended well for a couple of minutes but then the visitors broke through and touched down for an unconverted try. Almost immediately Harlow were back on to the counterattack and fullback Rob Mackie burst through to touch down for what was to be the first of his four tries. The next two Harlow tries came from the forwards; first from a drive over the line if and a touchdown by Jonathan Unwin and the second a charge through by Dominic Lane who had come on as replacement in the back row an early in the half. With the score at 61 points to five East London achieved another breakout and forced their way over the Harlow try line to add an extra 5 points to their tally. It was in the final quarter of an hour that Harlow really broke loose, moving the ball from hand to hand very freely and three times Rob Mackie the fullback came into the line to run in yet another try. The game finished at a 82 points to 10.

 

On Saturday Harlow will be a way to old Brentwoods. Is a game which they need to win if they are to consolidate a mid-table position at the end of the season. On the basis for the form they have been showing in recent weeks there are none of the five outstanding games that they have to play which are beyond their reach. On Saturday although one or two players were missing they were able to field a very strong squad. Their success in the closing stages of the season is going to depend very much on player availability. However off to the result on Saturday at least they can go forward with team morale at an all time high.

Tries: Mackie (4), Feasey (2), Claridge (2), Grimley, Smith, Unwin, Lane
Conversions: Smith (11)

Harlow Rugby Club: Ram Gorse, Elizabeth Way, Harlow, Essex CM20 2JQ. Tel: 01279 429750. To get directions Click here

Using this Site Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions  Accessibility Press & PR, Home Page

©Copyright Dave Sharp / Paul Eynon Harlow Rugby Club 2011

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge