The order in which a team is drawn against others in its league is purely a matter of chance. However, in their last four games Harlow have faced teams in the top five of the league and this Saturday when they meet Wanstead who are in fourth place they will complete the set. They can however take some satisfaction from their performance. They manage the win against fifth placed Cantabrigians and to take bonus points in two other games, and this with several key players not available. If they can get back to full strength and maintain the form they are showing then they have good prospects for the remainder of the season when they will be taking on clubs in the lower half of the table.

On Saturday they lost to third placed Upminster in their closest yet. With 3 minutes to go and Harlow in the lead the ball skidded out from a Harlow scrum close to the line and an Upminster player was quickest to grab it and touch down. The conversion gave them a 4 point lead but even then the game was not over. In the closing 2 minutes Harlow got to within five metres of the visitors try line and three times came within inches of powering their way over. The bonus point that they did take from the game keeps them in eighth place just ahead of Sudbury who produced a good win at the weekend. This Saturday they travel to fourth place Wanstead which will be a tough contest and then on the 23rd they will be at home to Beccles for the match that was snowed off a couple of weeks ago.

Harlow started strongly taking play deep into the Upminster half and forcing a five metre scrum. The visitors however defended strongly and were able to take the ball and get away a clearance kick. For the next 10 minutes Harlow maintained strong pressure but despite two more scrums and line-outs within the up minster 22 they were unable to cross the line and then when awarded a penalty at close range they opted to make sure of at least three points by asking Danny Smith to kick for goal . A few minutes later on their first good attacking move Upminster manage to run the ball splitting the Harlow defence to touch down near to the corner and then convert the try for a seven point to three lead. For the rest of the half Harlow continued to dominate territory but they were faced with a strong defence from a side who were willing to run the ball at every opportunity. Finally with only five minutes to go before the end of the half Harlow broke through. Winning the ball midfield they moved it wide and will Grimley came across from the opposite wing to make the extra man. The ball was moved to winger Chris Webb who managed to avoid the final tackle from his opposite number and touch down in the corner giving Harlow an eight points to seven lead. Upminster hit back almost immediately with another breakout from their backs exposing Harlow’s defensive weaknesses, touching down for an unconverted try making the score 8 points to 12 at the interval.

Six minutes into the second half Harlow were awarded a scrum deep inside the Upminster 22. They secured the ball and scrum half Rhys Powell made a charge for the line but was stopped short. He made the ball available and Harlow launched a second drive on the line and this time Luke Bowering playing at centre crashed his way through for the touchdown. Danny Smith slotted the conversion to put Harlow in front by 15 points to 12. The lead did not last long however when five minutes later the visitors won the ball in the Harlow half and moved it wide to their winger who took play down deep into Harlow’s half from where they achieved the touchdown and slotted the conversion taking their total to 19 points, a 4 point lead. The next 10 minutes was very much one of cut and thrust rugby before Harlow hit back with one of the best tries to have been seen at Ram Gorse for some time. Upminster kicked deep into the Harlow half when the ball was taken cleanly by Rob Mackie playing at fullback. He immediately went on to the counterattack and by a combination of speed and excellent running angles beat two defenders before finding himself approaching Upminster 22 with only the fullback to beat. He made a gesture as if to pass but then accelerated brushing past the defender to touch down under the posts. Danny Smith slotted the conversion to give Harlow a 22 points to 19 lead. They held on to this until with 3 minutes to go when an Upminster penalty allowed them to make touch deep into the Harlow half. They pressed forward to the Harlow line but were held out and eventually a handling error gave Harlow the five metre scrum. Harlow tried to drive forward to secure the ball for clearance but it came out awkwardly and an Upminster player was able to scoop it up and touch down for the try under the posts. The conversion took their lead to four points, a margin that was to prove critical. From the kick off Harlow were immediately into the attack and their forwards took the ball deep into the up minster half. Despite the fact that they he only had two minutes of playing time left they drove hard on the Upminster line and were stopped twice by the defenders who conceded penalties, the second of which led to their loose head prop being yellow carded. Harlow tapped and made one more drive for the line but were unable to get across and the visitors cleared to touch for the end of the game.

Tries: Chris Webb, Luke Bowering, Rob Mackie,
Conversions: Danny Smith (2)
Penalties: Danny Smith
Harlow Man of the Match:

Donkey of the Match:

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

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