Date: Sat 8th Apr 2017

Time: 2.30pm

Match Report

Essex Division 3 Merit Table Cup Final: Thurrock 19 – Harlow Rams 3

The Rams season drew to a close on Saturday with a trip to Thurrock for the BL3 Cup Final but they failed to round off a very successful season by adding the Cup to the League Title they have already won, going down 19-03 to the home team in a hard-fought contest.

The match was evenly fought for most of the first half until Thurrock eventually forced their way over after twenty-five minutes for an unconverted effort. Harlow replied strongly and were soon awarded a penalty opportunity just outside the Thurrock twenty-two which Chay Clark duly converted; 5-3 to Thurrock at the break.

The Rams started the second period the stronger and came to within inches of scoring on two occasions but each time the home team held out, finally clearing their lines with a long penalty kick to touch.

As the game wore on the more experienced Thurrock scrum began to come to the fore, forcing two scrum penalties and placing the home team firmly on the front foot. A second try, this time converted took the score to 12-3 but again The Rams forced their way back into the game, camping in the Thurrock twenty-two for what seemed like an age but unable to convert their pressure into points.

A breakaway score in the dying seconds of the game sealed The Rams fate and the dream of a League and Cup Double was gone.

The Rams finished the season proper as clear League winners with stats of: Played 18, Won 16 and Lost 2; Points For 753, Points Against 148. This from a squad with 50 per cent of their players aged twenty or below, a number of whom who have already had a taste of First Team Rugby.

A good way to end their time at Ram Gorse and a perfect position from which to begin playing at the new Club come September.

Scoring:

Pen; C. Clark

Squad:

1. Dan Stevenson

2. Mitchell Hodgkinson

3. Barrie Hussey

4. James Clark

5. Andy Quinn

6. Dan MacCarthy

7. Owen Blissett

8. Ross King

9. Alfie Clark

10. Chay Clark

11. Joe Heeney

12. Ryan Clark

13. Will Grimley

14. Ashley Westall

15. Jack Almond

16. Tom Allen

17. Suli Ashcroft

18. Sid Mortimer

19. Michael Watts