Colts breeze to battling derby victory
STRONG gusts put the wind in Market Harborough Colts’ sails as they won a keenly-contested derby at Lond Buckby 21-0.
Despite the high winds, both teams played some aggressive, entertaining rugby.
Playing with the wind initially, Harborough scored early from a well-executed penalty move, Ollie Spokes bursting through a stunned Buckby defence.
Harborough were comfortably in control in the set pieces but made hard work of breaking the opposition line, simple errors undermining too many attacks. Although they squandered some promising work, Ryan Smith eventually showed the way by smartly outpacing the cover to score.
Although ahead at half-time by 14-0, playing up a slope and into the wind looked a stiff task.
Buckby were eager to redress the balance and their forwards showed renewed vigour, but Harborough changed several players and their pack in particular kept the hosts at bay. Several strong drives to the line were repelled with some impressive tackling.
Buoyed by their defensive work, Harborough started to gain confidence in attack and from a quick break at the base of a scrum, Owen Nicholls raced away, putting Ben Windle into space to score.
For the second week in a row, Windle capped an excellent Harborough performance by kicking all the conversions.
Harborough u15s 31 N’pton Old Scouts u15s 7
AFTER a week off, Harborough under-15s stormed back to action with a resounding victory against local rivals Oakham.
Starting with a strong wind at their backs, they immediately put Oakham under pressure and after 15 minutes they turned pressure into points when excellent play released Ed Marshall, who touched down for a try excellently converted by Harry Lovell.
From the restart Harborough gained possession and an excellent chip from Joe Margetts allowed Lawrence Joel to collect and storm through for a second try, again converted by Lovell.
It was then the turn of the forwards and there was no stopping Jayk Dressler from ten metres for another touchdown and with Lovell adding the points, Harborough were 21-0 to the good at half-time.
They rang the changes in the second half and added two further tries through Will Dalby and Alex Haynes, although Oakham managed to cross the line for a try by John Mitchell which with the conversion bought the final score to 31-7 to Harborough.
An overwhelming victory was largely due to Harborough’s loose play, where they continually turned over rucks and gained the majority of possession, although the stand-out player was Margetts, who had a hand in three of the tries and created mayhem among the Oakham defence.
HARBOROUGH under-12s got their 2012 programme under way by celebrating a bumper success away at a very windy Hinckley.
Eighteen tries for and only one against tells the story of the day for the visitors.
A series of strong drives and pressure, with Henry Povoas to the fore, resulted in the first try of the day, scored by Huw Davies. Povoas scored the next one himself from the base of a strong scrum. Mathew Stamp, playing at outside centre, came racing through a crowded field to score following ball stolen from Hinckley’s lineout throw. Ross Primrose was next to score, on the left wing, followed by another score for Povoas, picking up after a strong drive by Joseph Cleaver. More forward power saw Cameron Jordan score his first try of the day.
Povoas scored again, and Jordan bagged two before a corker finished off by Stamp. Having won the ball with a strong scrum, Joe Summers released the back line with quick hands by Felix Brady to put Stamp over.
Scrum half Tom Pope was darting and sniping all day, paying off with a try from the base of a scrum. James Melody, a regular back playing at prop, took the ball at the front of a lineout before racing down the pitch. He was held up just short of the try line, and Adam Stamp followed up quickly to drive over for the score. Mathew Stamp scored next following another flowing move from the backs, before Primrose took a brace in quick succession.
Hinckley had been keeping the effort up despite the flood of tries against them, and their persistence paid off for a consolation score resulting from a high ball in the wind and confusion in the Harborough defence.
Will Hallam’s industrious play all day was rewarded with a try of his own, before Povoas had the last word with another score to wrap things up.
A TEAM from Harborough under-11s travelled to Hinckley to play two games against the hosts.
Harborough, playing uphill and against a strong wind, got off to a really sluggish start, conceding possession against a well-drilled team.
Hinckley dominated the first half, scoring three tries while the visitors struggled to pass in the blustery conditions and took many wrong options when they managed to get the ball.
At 19-0 adrift at half-time, Harborough were challenged to dominate the second half and stepped up with Ben Richards and Kipp Allingham leading the charge. With better ball retention, they started to take control and were rewarded when the ball moved along the back line for Ben Ryman to score in the corner.
Positive and aggressive running from Taran Mann and excellent tackling from Ted Brown kept Hinckley in their own half and when Allingham finished off an excellent move started by Callum Boulter to make the score 19-14, the team could sight a win however time was not on their side and they lost the first game 19-14.
In the second game Harborough again played uphill in the first half, however with renewed confidence and excellent forward control with Richards, Allingham, Boulter, Alex Delaney and Charlie Hilton in full flow, the hosts didn’t know what had hit them.
After good running from Jack Houlihan and Delaney, captain Allingham darted over for the first of his three tries, all of which he converted, making it 21-0 at the break.
Harborough also dominated the second half when their superior fitness told, although they struggled to get over the line despite strong runs from Conor Miller, Ben Evans, Richards and Delaney.
Eventually, however, the hosts’ line was broken when Miller crashed over for a well-deserved try, making the final score 26-0.
HARBOROUGH under-9s’ Rascals and Rogues were also in action at Hinckley
Rascals lost their opening encounter 3-1.
They went into an early lead after a Tyler Smith run and finish in the corner. They did, however, find the large Hinckley side difficult to stop and the hosts powered over for two tries to lead 2-1 at half-time despite the spirited efforts of Giaan Mann.
Rascals defended better in the second half thanks to some brave tackling from George Eveleigh and Dom Alston in particular but Hinckley scored again to confirm their win.
Rascals drew their second match 3-3 .
They started brightly with Josh Long and George Strevens both carrying the ball well.
A fluent backs move resulted in Smith going over for the opening score but Hinckley replied to level the match.
A superb Patrick Bairstow steal and feed to Smith led to the Rascals being 2-1 ahead at the interval.
Hinckley came back well in the second half and scored two early tries to lead 3-2 but prolific Smith went over again to complete his hat-trick and level the scores.
In the last play of the game Hinckley looked to be going over in the corner for a winner but Joseph Smith put in a fantastic try-saving tackle, which meantthe game finished in a draw.
Rogues narrowly lost their opener against Hinckley A 2-1.
The first half was a tough ten minutes for the visitors. Hard tackling and determined rucking couldn’t stop the Hinckley A squad from scoring twice.
Some determined forward runs from Henry Joule and hard tackling from Will Green helped the Rogues gain ground in the second half and resulted in a lineout being awarded deep inside the opposition half. Joule received the ball from the restart and choose the blind side to score. Pressure was applied by the Rogues but they narrowly lost.
Rogues then went down 4-2 to the Hinckley B side.
Billy Ellam opened the scoring for the Rogues, diving over the try line following a Harborough scrum in the first two minutes. Hinckley soon replied with a try and the game was even by half-time.
The opening session of the second half was dominated by the home side. They gained ground on Rogues, whose mistakes were being penalised by several free pass restarts awarded to their opponents.
Soon the Rogues were facing a heavy defeat as Hinckley scored twice from penetrating runs.
Finally some luck went the visitors’ way, Ben Ridgway driving forward and scoring his first try of 2012 following a free pass restart just inside the home team’s half. But a late try, against the run of the play, sealed a 4-2 victory for Hinckley B.
Rogues showed fighting spirit in both games and were unlucky to come away without a win. Will Green was awarded the player of the week vote, having tackled hard throughout and run well at the opposition.
Harborough’s senior team selections for Saturday are:
1st (home, league v Peterborough Lions, meet 12.45pm, ko 2.15) - T Lee, A French, M Sneath, J Baird, D Hall, D Carter, S Morris, M Woodford, D Bailey, W Taylor, R Durose, Ta Naylor, R Jeacock, T Bale, E Bale, J Grant, P Percival, H Hollis.
2nd (home, league v Vipers 2nd, meet 12.45, ko 2.15) - B Johnson, G Lee, M Elton, N Watson, J Lee, E Prouse, B Costello, L Riordan, A Blatchly, D Yeow, C Smith, C Standley, D Peart, D Broughton, H Davies, E Sanderson, To Naylor, T Jones.
3rd (away, league v Lutterworth 3rd, meet 12.15, ko 2.15) - T Bamford, B Lawniczak, A Blackler, R Gibson, G Carter, J Blades, M Alcorn, B Jones, A Woods, C Brown, G Rice, A Lyle, S Atkins, E Godfrey, D Saunders, T Nichols, L McCall, A Ball, B Sheridan, T Youngs, Connor.
The Veterans are away to Melton 4th in league (ko 2.15); the Colts away in cup to Market Bosworth (2.15).
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Weather for Harborough
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
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