Date: Sat 4th Nov 2017

Time: 2.30pm

Match Report

Harlow knew they would have to be on top of their game to beat top of the table Rochford whose players had National league rugby experience. Straight away Rochford put Harlow under pressure. They were awarded a scrum 5 metres from the Harlow line. A powerful scrummage saw Rochford drive Harlow back & score their first try.

Smith missed an early penalty kick to get Harlow into the game. Rochford showed Harlow how much structured they had in the forwards. From a line out Rochford secured the ball & drove over the Harlow line making the score 12 – 0 after 14 minutes. Harlow had no answer as Rochford’s forwards started to link with their backs & produced some great flowing rugby. Harlow found themselves 34- 0 down at Half Time.

Harlow came out in the second half with a lot of grit & determination only conceding 2 tries in the first 30 minutes. With the score at 46 – 0 the Rochford scrum half was yellow carded for punching. Harlow tried to take advantage of the extra man with winger Dale Stalley touching down over the line, but the referee deemed that his foot went into touch cancelling the try. Harlow’s winger Whitby was then yellow carded for talking back at the referee. This gave Rochford the opportunity to score 3 late tries . Bringing the final score to 65 – 0 . Rochford playing the standard of Rugby that Harlow hopes to aspire to in the future.