Date: Sat 10th Mar 2018

Time: 3.00pm

Match Report

Playing this local Derby away from home Harlow needed to get a strong side out but late fitness tests on captain Shaun Roberts and Michael Weston saw them both withdrawn from the team. As both are key back row players this was a blow to the Harlow scrum.

A couple of early probing runs by winger Ryan McGlone tested the Upper Clapton defence. Harlow were rewarded with a kickable early penalty but unfortunately Danny Smith pulled his kick wide of the posts. Epping Upper Clapton got onto the score sheet first with a penalty after 15 minutes.

With the score at 3 – 0 Upper Clapton had a scrumage inside Harlow’s 22 metre line.
From the scrum their scrum half made a sweeping run on the blind side feeding the winger to score the first try of the game. Missing the conversion after 26 minutes the score was 8 – 0.

Harlow tried to find a way back into the game with their forwards mauling the ball into Clapton’s half. With a Clapton forward dropping the maul saw the first yellow card of the game. Harlow forwards continued to attack Clapton with a driving maul. A couple of metres out Harlow’s back row Josh Drake found space to drive over the line making the score 8 – 5 at half time.

Eight minutes into the second half Upper Clapton were awarded their second yellow card for foul play. Harlow could not take advantage with the extra man and it was Clapton who scored there second try making the score 13 – 5.

A late push from Harlow saw hooker Martin Mallia scoring Harlow second try from a line out bringing the final score 13 – 10 to Epping Upper Clapton. At least Harlow came away with a bonus point keeping them in 5th place in the table.

Tries: Josh Drake, Martin Mallia

Team: 1. Scott Stalley, 2. Martin Mallia, 3. Jack Christy , 4. Adam Seeley, 5. Rob Treamer, 6. James Clark, 7. Dale Stalley, 8. Ryan Clark, 9. Charlie Woodington, 10. Danny Smith, 11. Ryan McGlone, 12. Alfie Clark,13. Ross Stalley, 14 . Scott Whitby, 15 . Chay Clark, 16. Josh Drake,17. Benjamin Seymour 18. Simon Vanbeck

This Saturday Harlow are at home to league leaders the only undefeated side in the competition. They have had a hard time since Christmas not helped by player injuries. They must hope to field a full side for this one. Thanks to their excellent performance in the first half of the season they are hanging on to this 5th place in the table but have a tough set of games still to come.