Date: Sun 8th Jan 2023

Time: 2:00pm

Match Report

We hosted Eton Manor this week in a league a game.  The weather started fine and sunny during the warmup and then, just in time for kick off the rain started and persisted on and off throughout.

Late withdrawals through illness from Sammy Keens and Connor Hesler left us a little light on the bench, and a reminder was required to Nickerson Said that meet time was 10:15 not 11:15!

Members of our squad who were not playing today joined to support the team and a big thank you Jayden Kempthorne Harris, Adam Fry and Ben Taylor for your support. Special thanks for Adam and Ben for helping run touch.

First Half

Slow starts and early mistakes continue to be our achilles heel. The obligatory two try head start was given to Eton Manor who scored twice quickly taking the score to 0-12.

Particular attention had been paid to our defensive patten which then kicked in and we looked organised around the break down and the backs defence kept the Eton Manor attack at bay for the rest of the half.

Most of the good play from Harlow came from playing quickly and from a quick tap penalty Owen Mills barged his way through and then stretched for the line. 5-12.

Half time 5 – 12.

The half time team talked reflected that the process is working keep up the effort in defence and work the game plan in attack. All the subs came onto the pitch. Daniel Rolfe-Doyle at hooker, Adam Leamon on the wing (and then later to scrum half) Nickerson Said into the second row and Harry Shaw on the wing.

The second half started well with great pressure from Harlow at the kick off forcing a 5-meter scrum. A mistake at the pickup allowed Eton Manor to clear their lines.

Unfortunately, in the second half Harlow had lost their shape in defence and a series of missed tackles allowed Eton Manor to score a number of tries.

Harlow weren’t able to retain the ball at the break down which meant our attack didn’t really function. More to work on at training this week.

In league games when the score reaches a 39-point difference the game should be stopped. With credit to the Harlow team, they all wanted to carry on playing showing that they really have the desire to keep playing.

Final Score 5 –57

Tries: Owen Mills
Conversions: Not this week
Penalties: Not this week
Referee(s): Independent Essex Society, Matt Knight from Chelmsford.

Team
1. Reigan Clark, 2. Iestyn Owen, 3. Oliver Davies, 4. Jacob Kearney, 5. Louis Kasket, 6. Grady Butler (c), 7. Daniel Wood, 8. Owen Mills, 9. Leo Johnson, 10. Will Lyons, 11. Jessie Collins, 12. Stanley Dennis, 13. Louis Fisher, 14. Eduard Turcu, 15. Rhys Eynon.

Subs: Daniel Rolfe-Doyle, Adam Leamon, Nickerson Said, Harry Shaw. All played at least half a game.