Date: Sat 13th Jan 2018

Time: 2.00pm

Match Report

On Saturday Harlow travelled to 4th placed Norwich. Changes to Harlow’s side saw Kain Claridge returning to number 8 and veteran Simon Vanbeck on the wing.

The first 15 minutes saw Harlow pressuring Norwich in their half. Harlow had two opportunities to kick for goal, but decided to kick to touch. Unfortunately they could not convert this pressure into points.

Norwich then turned their solid defence into attack and Harlow conceded a penalty, which Norwich kicked. With the score at 3 – 0 Norwich spread the ball wide from a scrum and broke Harlow’s defence scoring under the posts.  Kicking the conversion the teams came in at Half time with the score at 10 – 0
in favour of the home side.

In the first minute of the second half Norwich went down to 14 men with their second row putting in a high tackle. Five minutes later Harlow’s winger Scott Whitby gathered the ball and scored a great individual try.

With the score at 10 – 5 Norwich were awarded a penalty just in Harlow’s half. With a quick tap Norwich’s scrum half took advantage of Harlow’s lapse of concentration and ran uncontested under the posts for a converted try increasing their lead to 17- 5.

The Norwich forwards started to drive Harlow’s pack back onto their 10 metre line. Under the pressure Harlow started to give away penalties and after several warnings gave a penalty try to Norwich.  Harlow now found themselves behind by 24 point to 5.

With a couple of fresh substitutions saw Fitzgerald come into prop and Malia to hooker. Harlow’s
pack turned the tables on Norwich and started to drive their pack back. With Norwich bringing down the maul illegally the referee awarded the second penalty try of the game.

The game finished at 24 -12 to Norwich.

Harlow should be proud of a very gutsy performance in which they kept in contact with a strong side who could have dominated the game.

This weekend Harlow 1 st XV have a break before they play Chelmsford at home. Chelmsford struggled in the early part of the season and are in 9th place to Harlow’s 5th . They have however won their last three games and it will require a committed performance by Harlow to make sure of the home win.

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

Tries: Scott Whitby, Penalty Try