Date: Sun 28th Apr 2019
Time: 11:00am
Match Report
Sunday 28th April – Harlow u13s 45 Thurrock u13s 5 – Waterfall Cup Final
Harlow hosted Thurrock for the last game of the season where we would compete for the Waterfall Cup. This game offered us the opportunity to play a game against a side that this time last year would have pulled us apart, we had played them home and away this year and lost by a try and by two tries so we were expecting a close fought game against a team at similar level to us.
There was a lot of play forwards and backwards between the teams both teams found their way into the game. Harlow kept the pressure on and most of the play was in the Thurrock half.
From a scrum on the opposition 10 meter line, Harlow ran a move putting Levy through a hole and managed to get very close to the line, just being caught a little short Ajibabi then smashed over for his first try of the day.
Our second try came from pressure the Harlow team were putting on near the Thurrock line Thurrock kicked to clear their lines to Levy who jinked and stepped his way close to the line, where Oliver was supporting just on his shoulder to collect the easy pass and touch down.
Our third try came as Rushworth stole the ball at the break down to feed Stovell who kicked into the space, chasing his own kick to touch down just ahead of the chasing defence.
Our fourth try came from a powerful scrum on the Thurrock five meter line providing quality ball for a rehearsed move that saw Ajibabi crash over for his second try.
Our last try of the half came from a quick tap from Rushworth who fed Pankhurst who found Stovell in space who passed to Westbrook on the line who touched down. The players really took advantage of the space, it was excellent to see.
This first half was showing how hard the players were working for each other, as other than the tries there were turn overs at the break down, particularly a monumental hit from Morgan which produced the ball for us. They were looking after each other and the ball in contact which was allowing us to dominate possession.
Half time 25 – 0
The second half showed Thurrock were not out of this game yet and they stuck back early. A couple of good attacks put Harlow under pressure and we conceded our first try of the game as Thurrock shifted the ball out wide.
The Harlow team had made some changes at half time but these did not make a difference, the scrum was still strong and it was from a strong scrum Pankhurst went down the blind side and because Snowdon stayed wide, holding a defender he was able to show and go to touch down for his first try. Individual brilliance enabled by great team play.
Up next was Levy, after being so influential in the first half, time for him to get on the score sheet. Another break down the blind side saw Levy nip over the line.
Our third second half try came from Pankhurst who burst through the defence in a solo effort, again set up with dummy runners drawing the defence away.
Our final try came at the end of the second half with Ajibabi smashing through a hole that wasn’t there until he made it and touching down to the sound of the final whistle.
While covering the tries, we must also reflect once again on some earth shuddering tackling from Levy and Morgan again. Some great tackles and turn overs from Eynon, Williams and Westbrook, great ball carrying from Lea, Jackson, Kelman and Snowdon.
A fantastic team effort today from all the players in the squad, a good practice session on Wednesday lead to a great performance today, we are very proud to have coached you all this season and to see you show your potential on the pitch. Very worth Cup winners.
Final Score 45 – 5.
Thank you for the support from those not in today’s squad, Adams who ran touch, Waugh and Court who were out with injury.
The learning points from today are: We are loving this journey together as the players develop. Bring on the u14s season!
Harlow Man of the Match:
Tries: Tolu Ajibabi (3) Jamie Oliver, Henry Stovell, Tobie Westbrook, Joseph Pankhurst (2), Montelle Levy
Referee: Geoff Hargreaves
Touch Judge: Freddie Adams
Team
1. Joseph Williams/Jacob Morgan, 2. Archie Goodger/Callum Boyce, 3. Ed Lea, 4. Danny Billington/Brandon Jackson, 5. Charlie Jacques/Corey Kelman, 8. Jamie Oliver 9. Jack Rushworth. 10. Joesph Pankhurst, 11. Montelle Levy, 12. Tolu Ajibabi/Owen Eynon, 13. Henry Stovell (Captain), 14. George Snowdon, 15. Tobie Westbrook
