Date: Sat 27th Jan 2018

Time: 3.00pm

Match Report

On a miserable January day Harlow were protecting their unbeaten run at Latton Park against a Chelmsford side who had won their last 3 games. Harlow knew that they would be facing a much stronger side that the one they defeated in the away leg in October.
The Chelmsford pack started to drive Harlow off the ball and the home side struggled to retain the ball to put any attacking moves together.
After 6 minutes Chelmsford placed a deep kick over the Harlow defence. Full back Ross Stalley tried to retrieve the ball, but was beaten by Chelmsford winger who scored their first try.

Half an hour went by and both sides struggled to create any attacking moves but Chelmsford pegged Harlow back in their half for much of the time.
Late in the half Harlow managed to kick a penalty making the scores 3 – 5 at Half Time.

In the second half Chelmsford took the game to Harlow and scored their second try after 58 minutes making the score 3 – 10. The drizzle and a wet surface made it difficult for either side t play good rugby. However In the last 5 minutes Harlow eventually managed to show some fight. With quick ball from a line-out Kain Claridge found himself clear to score Harlow’s first try and with Smith converting the scores were level at 10 – 10. Unfortunately with two  minutes to go Harlow conceded a penalty just outside their 22 metre line.  Chelmsford against the wind and rain coolly slotted the ball between the posts to win the game 10 – 13.

Team: 1. Scott Stalley, 2. Mark Bowering, 3,   Adam Seeley 4. Karl Rodell, 5, Rob Treamer, 6.  Shaun Roberts, 7.  James Clark, 8. Kain Claridge, 9. Charlie Woodington, 10. Danny Smith, 11. James Fricker, 12. Chay Clark, 13. Scott Whitby.  14 Simon Vanbeck, 15.  Ross Stalley, 16.   Danny Fitzgerald.17. Martin Malia, 18.  Rhys Whitby

Try: Kain Claridge

Conversion: Danny Smith

Penalty: Danny Smith

Harlow were fielding a side with a number of changes would have benefited from a having the confidence of a more consistent line up. The greasy playing surface and the wet ball made it hard to play open rugby and to be fair to them Chelmsford adapted better. Next weekend Harlow are away to eleventh placed Cantabrigian and then tenth placed Woodford. Both are winnable games. They must use the opportunity to consolidate their squad before the meet higher placed sides.