Date: Sun 29th Sep 2019

Time: 11:00am

Match Report

Sunday 29th September –Dagenham u14s 15 – Harlow u14s 54 Essex Cup

Harlow travelled to Dagenham for the first round of the Essex Waterfall Cup. The Essex Junior Waterfall Cup sees both teams progress, if you win you play someone else who wins, if you lose you play someone else who loses. The goal is for the end of the season all teams to have a cup final against someone of your own level and create a competitive final game of the season.

Rain threatened, in fact it poured down on the way there, but did not deliver once we had arrived which set up a slippery but great morning of rugby. With Dagenham in red, Harlow played in white (with their shirts on inside out.)

We started slowly this week with Dagenham getting the upper hand from the kick off and working their way down our left wing to take an early lead 5-0.

Harlow had a chat underneath the posts and came back with a bit more focus. They applied break down pressure to drive Dagenham off the ball. The backs skilfully put it through the hands while drawing in the opposition and putting Tolu Ajibabi through to score his first out wide.

The pressure on Dagenham continued this time at the scrum which gave Ben Ferrier the chance to break from the back of the scrum uncontested and sprint away for his first try of the day. Joseph Pankhurst calmly slotted the conversion.

Archie Goodger and Brandon Jackson were working hard at the break down achieved a turn over which landed in Tolu’s hands where he sprinted away for his second try of the match.

From the kick off, Ben caught the ball and stepped and sprinted his way out of his own half and under the posts.

Harlow were in dominant form and trying things. Henry Stovell spotted some space behind the defence and kicked it high into the dead ball area, the full back mis-judged it and the bounce of the ball beat Henry chasing his own kick to land in front of Owen Eynon who touched down to score. Henry slotted a well taken conversion.

From a free kick Jack Rushworth opted for Ben Farrier, having a great game, to carry hard through the defence to score his hat-trick try. Joseph Pankhurst again slotted the conversion.

Our captain Henry Stovell go in on the action just before half time scoring his try having bust through the defence.

Half time 5 – 41.

In the second half some of our players were having a little bit of a nap and Dagenham had set themselves a target of winning the second half. They started fresh and with new competitive edge and their vigour at the break down put Harlow under pressure.

From a poor clear out, Dagenham found space and scored. It took Harlow into the last quarter to find their mojo which came from a scrum where Danny Billington picking up from the back of the scrum and driving over. Joseph Pankhurst again slotted the conversion.

From the kick off, it did not quite go 10 meters however, Felix Waugh saw his opportunity and he caught it and set off on a powerful run setting up a decent ruck. Ben Farrier picked up and took the long route down the wing to score. Conversion to Joseph Pankhurst.

Dagenham scored the final try of the game to round things off.

The second half score was 14-10, and Dagenham were much improved from the last time we played them and much improved in the second half.

Final Score 15 – 54.

Work rate throughout the game is something to focus on in training this week and off loads / passing in the tackle zone or before.

Harlow Man of the Match: Ben Ferrier (Chosen by Dagenham)
Dagenham Man of the Match: Their centre – number 12 (Awarded by the Harlow Players and who’s name I have forgotten)
Tries: Ben Ferrier (4), Tolu Ajibabi (2), Owen Eynon, Henry Stovell, Danny Billington
Conversions: Joseph Pankhurst (4), Henry Stovell
Penalties: None
Referee: Chris from Dagenham
Starting Team
1. Felix Waugh, (Sub Jacob Morgan) 2. Callum Boyce (Sub Charlie Jacques) 3. Joseph Williams 4. Danny Billington (Sub Ed Lea) 5. Brandon Jackson (Sub Corey Kelman) 6. George Snowdon 7. Archie Goodger 8. Ben Ferrier 9. Jack Rushworth 10. Joseph Pankhurst 11. Montelle Levy 12. Tolu Ajibabi 13. Henry Stovell 14. Owen Eynon 15. Tobie Westbrook

All players played half a game or more.