Date: Sun 23rd Feb 2020

Time: 11:00am

Match Report

Sunday 23rd February – Thurrock u14s 44 Harlow u14s 5 : League

We travelled to Thurrock today to battle some very breezy conditions.
From the kick off Harlow were caught napping the Thurrock player caught the ball and ran straight back and scored, the wind needed to blow away a few cobwebs for Harlow to be competitive today. 5-0.

From a Harlow line out in our own half, Harlow split the ball as they carried the ball forward, Harlow were struggling to adjust to the windy conditions, Thurrock quickly moved the ball wide to score a converted try 12-0.

Thurrock’s next score came from a pick up from scrum and some short neat support play. 17-0.

We welcomed Alfie Duttall to the squad this week as he made his Harlow debut coming onto the field of play just before the end of the first half for Archie Goodger.

The last try of the half came from a Harlow attack where we lost the ball at the break down and Thurrock spread the ball to where we weren’t, out wide and too the half time score to 22-0

Half time 22 – 0.

At half time, the players recognised they needed to work harder in defence and put pressure on Thurrock and force mistakes.

With the conditions in the second half slightly favouring Harlow, Harlow played much of the half in the Thurrock half as the wind inhibited Thurrock’s exit. Harlow we keener to carry the ball with Jamie Oliver offering himself as a ball carrier time and time again, Danny Billington chipped in with a few good carries. At a break down, Thurrock stole the ball and ran from their own half to score a converted try 29-0.

Harlow knew they were up against it but there was a bit more determination and from persistent pressure Harlow were awarded a scrum slightly to the left of the posts. Jack Rushworth played Henry Stovell who had cut across from the open to the blind side drawing the defence, he passed to winger Owen Eynon who with a lot still to do, stepped inside and scored closer to the posts. 29-5

Thurrock were not down yet, and scored three more tries, the first coming from a number 8 pick up and then handing off a number of Harlow players before scoring in the corner.

The next from a penalty advantage and a turn over Thurrock bust through the middle of the pitch and the last from a line out where their centre ran hard fast through the centres.

We’ve had better games and now we put this behind us and raise our game for Upper Clapton next Sunday. Bring on training on Wednesday.

Final Score 44 –5.

In training let’s work on raising our game and playing at tempo so we can ensure we can work hard.

Tries: Owen Eynon
Conversions: None
Penalties: None
Referee: From Thurrock

Starting Team
1. Felix Waugh (Sub Max Bien), 2. Callum Boyce (Sub Charlie Jacques), 3. Joseph Williams, 4. Ed Lea, 5. Danny Billington, 6 Archie Goodger (Sub Alfie Dutnall), 7. James Ford, 8. Jamie Oliver, 9. Jack Rushworth, 10. Joseph Pankhurst, 11. Joe Court, 12. Tolu Ajibabi, 13. Henry Stovell, 14. Owen Eynon, 15. Tobie Westbrook

All players played half a game or more.