Playing against a strong wind in the first half, the home team were quickly under pressure with the visitors showing great determination in taking the game to the Owls. Working hard to keep possession of the ball, Stanford spent the first ten minutes in the Harwich half but were met with a solid defensive line and some powerful tackling.

Harwich began to take control of the game and good runs from Kimberley Hutchins and Sybil Taunton threatened the Stanford line but some excellent last gasp tackles by the visiting full back and centre kept the Owls from scoring.

An injury to the influential flanker Bronwyn Skipworth forced a reshuffle with Mimi Montgomery moving into the pack and the introduction of Annalise Allan in the backs. A free flowing handling move in the backs saw the ball fed to outside centre Allan who crashed over for the first score. With both defences on top, there were few scoring chances and the first half ended 5 - 0.

With the strong wind now behind them, the Owls continued to pressure the visiting defence. Powerful runs by Abi Cutts, Nicola Kington and Naomi Dobner kept Harwich on the front foot and when Stanford did try to attack they were met with some booming tackles from Montgomery, Beth Lemessurier and Sophia Tricker.

The relentlessness of the pressure kept the Owls camped in the visitors 22. A superb offload by Dena Gibbons put Tricker through but a last gasp tackle stopped her on the line. Twice the Owls crossed the try line only to have the ball held up before Montgomery eventually found a space to slice through the defensive wall to score. Allan converted with a difficult kick to increase the lead.

The visitors did not give up and soon had Harwich under pressure. With the help of indiscipline from the home side, Stanford spent the next five minutes pummelling at a resolute Owls’ defence. A crunching tackle by Yas Amber stopped the Sanford winger in the corner and Amber then cleared the Harwich line with a kick that went almost the length of the pitch.

The end of the game saw Harwich again in the ascendency but unable to find a way through Stanford’s stubborn defence and the match ended 12 - 0 to the home side.

This extends the Owls’ unbeaten run to six in a row and just as importantly is the fifth in a row without conceding a point. Harwich now have a week off before getting back on the road to play Lowestoft & Yarmouth.

Report by Walter Blacker