Date: Sat 17th Sep 2016

Time: 3pm

Match Report

The Rams traveled to Chelmsford Saturday for round two of this seasons league campaign but, with a couple of injuries to the squad and a few last minute cheap holidays, it was a very depleted group that met up at the club on Saturday morning. The squad of 16 had shrunk by two overnight but luckily Mark Wedd was on hand to bring The Rams back up to their full compliment.

Harlow started the fixture strongly and within minutes of the first whistle Dan Evans had crossed the line to post the first points of the afternoon. Strong driving play in the midfield sucked in the home defence and left acres of space for the visitors to exploit. Chelmsford finally managed to stop the forward momentum five metres from their try line but the respite was to be brief. The Harlow pack were instantly there in support of the tackled player, setting up the maul from which a peel from Evans found the gap in the defence; 0-5.

Harlow started the game playing down the slope and with the strong wind to their backs, stand-in fly-half, Alfie Clark was quick to use these advantages. A series of well placed kicks to touch pinned the home team back from which the dominant Harlow lineout put Chelmsford under constant pressure, stealing a large percentage of their throws.

Five minutes played and The Rams had crossed the line for a second time, Charlie Robinson crashing in under the posts and Alfie Clark adding the extras; 0-12.

Chelmsford could find no answer to the incisive running of the visitors and within minutes the third try had been posted, Alfie Clark stepping his way through the defence to within inches of the line before slipping the pass to the supporting James Behr; 0-17.

The pressure was now intense and the home defence could do little to stop the procession of try scorers. Alfie Clark; 0-22. A barnstorming run from Ashley Westall; 0-29 and a second for Evans following another steal from the Chelmsford lineout; 0-34.

The final whistle of the half was accompanied by the sight of Charlie Robinson being helped from the pitch with a twisted ankle; The Rams down to fourteen.

Five minutes into the second half and Barry Hussey being helped from the pitch injured and The Rams down to thirteen. Two minutes later and Mark Wedd on the sideline and The Rams down to twelve.

Frantic work from Whopper got Wedd back on the pitch but the home team had capitalised on their numerical superiority by touching down for a converted score; 7-34.

Five minutes later and it was 12-34 but any thoughts of a fightback were delivered a mortal blow by the next Rams attack.

Westall broke the gainline before shipping the ball onto Ali Phillips who stepped the final defenders to touched down for the seventh Harlow score of the day; 12-41.

Whopper had again performed his magic, patching up Hussey and getting The Rams back to fourteen but the remainder of the half was all about defence. Harlow, a man down and playing up hill but steadfast.

Final score, 12-41.

The Rams are at home this week for the first time this season against Ongar.

Tries: D. Evans (2), A. Westall, A. Clark, J. Behr, C. Robinson, A Phillips
Conversions: A. Clark (3)

1. Barry Hussey, 2. Mitchell Hodgkinson, 3. Danny Fitz, 4. Jack Christy, 5. Mark Wedd, 6. James Roberts, 7. Dan McCarthy, 8. Dan Evans, 9. Jake Watts, 10. Alfie Clark, 11. Ash Westall, 12. Ryan Clark, 13. Charlie Robinson, 14. James Behr, 15. Ali Phillip