Date: Sun 13th Nov 2016

Time: 10am

Match Report

The second round of the Waterfall Competition was held today at Stanford-le-Hope.
As usual, we had a great welcome from Stanford.

Kick off was brought forward to 10.00am due to fixture congestion. It started with Stanford taking the game to Harlow. It took a little time for Harlow to realise that they were in the game. We then woke up and started to play. It wasn’t long before our forward play started to take control. We were awarded a scrum 10m from the Stanford try line. George Garner picked up from the back of the scrum and powered himself through the Stanford defence and scored. 0-5. It wasn’t long before we were on the score sheet again. Connor Ingram received the ball from a scrum approx. .5m in our half. He side- stepped not once, not twice but 4 times leaving Stanford chasing shadows. He made some 35m before he was tackled but managed to off load to Dan Keane who supported Connor for most of his run. Dan scored under the posts. When Connor got his breath back he made the conversion 0-12.

Harlow now had a head of steam. Our forwards were dominating the play. The pick up and go was brilliant to watch. There have been many hours spent on the training pitch perfecting this and today all of that work paid off. One of the Stanford coaches commented on our forward play, but not to be outdone, the backs were showing massive improvement in positioning, defence line and drift defence.

If wasn’t long before we were on the score sheet again. Great work from the forwards with their pick up and go. Callum Wright received the ball some 15m out and just did what he is good at. Running straight and into contact, Stanford couldn’t stop him and Callum scored in the corner. Connor Ingram was unlucky with the conversion. He just missed the post by 1 foot. 0– 17. Stanford kept the fight going. They were trying to compete with our forwards and were showing signs of pushing us back. We won a scrum some 10m in our half and Connor Ingram received the ball who passed it out to Connor Clark who off loaded it to Dan Keane who ran nearly half the pitch avoiding several tackles and scoring under the posts. 0-22. Connor Ingram scored the conversion. 0-24.

0-24 Half Time

Second half started pretty much the same as the first. Harlow had made their way up the pitch and with some 20m from Stanford try line Peter Watt found himself breaking through. We were looking for support but he soon realised that he was on his own so he just kept on running. He was tackled but not held so he got up and dived over the line. This was Peter’s first try for the club.
Connor Ingram added to the score with another conversion. 0-31. Owen Higgins decided to get in on the act. He scored under the posts powering through Stanford’s defence. Conversion by Connor Ingram to bring the score to 0-38. Alex Perry decided that he wanted to get his name on the score sheet. With his usual determination he picked up a loose ball and broke two tackles and scored under the posts. This was converted as well. 0-45.

Stanford kept their heads up and were full of challenge. They kicked from their 22m line and the wind took the ball to the half way line. Stanford chased the ball and collected it some 40m out and scored under the post. Our defence had gone to sleep. 5 – 45. From the start Harlow again missed the defence opportunity, which allowed Stanford to score their second try. To make up for this, we pushed Stanford right back to their try line from the restart. George Gazzard found himself 5 m out with the ball. Stanford expected scrum half to pass to the right so they moved over. George saw the gap and dived over the line. This was also George’s first try for the club 5-50. This day had become a day for firsts. We had one more try in us. Will Keep received the ball from a ruck and ran straight for the try line.

With minutes to go Stanford put up one more effort and scored in the corner after some great rucking and support play. Everyone played their part today. Well done Harlow.

We are delighted with the win, would like to thank Stanford who stand out amongst our competitors for the strength and quality of their team. They truly embody the qualities that we all stand for, fairness, welcome, respect and equality. Their hospitality is also second to none and we look forward to welcoming them to Harlow in the near future.

Final Score 15-55.

Special thanks to our supporters today and especially Sam Collins.

Man of the Match: Joel Holding. For great rucking, tackling and off loading. Well done Joel.

Tries: George Garner, Dan Keane 2, Callum Wright, Peter Watt, Owen Higgins, Alex Perry, George Gazzard and Will Keep
Conversions: Connor Ingram 10pts

Team: Leo Roach, Ewan Taplin, Peter Watt, Joel Holding, Owen Higgins, George Garner (c), Will Keep, Alex Perry, George Gazzard, Connor Ingram, Callum Wright, Connor Clark, Dan Keane, Daniel Ringer, Camaron Howard, Loui McArdell, Joe Norris, Logan Thurwood, Lewis Chapman, Jack Jackson and Sammy Kafas