Date: Sat 10th Sep 2016

Time: 3pm

Match Report

The Rams traveled to Brentwood on Saturday for the first league game of the season against the newly promoted Mavericks.

The home team play a style of Rugby more suited to a seven-aside pitch and The Rams found themselves being dragged into playing the same way for the first quarter; a quarter that saw Mavericks take a 12-0 lead.

The Rams then began to tighten up their play, starving the home team of the quick ball that they seemed to thrive on and finishing the half with two well taken scores, Dean Read and Calum Coyne both diving over following strong driving play by the Harlow pack. Halftime and the score stood at 12-10 to the home team.

A moments lack of concentration from the restart and Mavericks had extended their lead to 19-10 but as the game progressed it was the visitors who gradually took control, although never managing to take control of the scoreline until very late on.

Ryan Clark stepped and swotted six opposition defenders before diving in under the posts but this was quickly followed by a Mavericks breakaway response; 26-17.

Harlow continued to dominate in most areas; the driving play of the pack sucking in the tight defence and allowing the opening for The Rams backline to exploit; Alfie Clark dummying the pass out wide before stepping his man and touching down for the fourth Rams try of the afternoon; 26-24.

There was only five minutes remaining when Harlow finally took the lead. Strong driving from the pack again created the opening and Dan Evans was quick to pounce on the opportunity; 26-31.

Mavericks attacked the restart ball but quick hands in The Rams pack created the space for debutant Tyler Howard to grab his chance, sprinting down the right-hand touchline with half a dozen chasers in hot pursuit but the young Ram had the gas to outpace the desperate chasers and touch the ball down in the corner. Final score 26-36 to the visitors and, although by far a perfect display, a good win to start the new league campaign.

Scoring;
Try; R. Clark, A. Clark, D. Evans, C. Coyne, D. Read, T. Howard
Con: C. Clark (3)

Team;
1. Barry Hussey 2. Tyler Howard 3. Danny Fitz 4. Dan Evans 5. Dan Makepeace 6. Dan McCarthy 7. Calum Coyne 8. Dean Read 9. Jake Watts 10. Chay Clark 11. Ashley Westall 12. Ryan Clark 13. Alfie Clark 14. Will Grimley 15. Ali Phillips 16. James Behr