Peterborough 0 H&D Owls 71

Peterborough started the game well, putting the visitors under some pressure but their tactic of playing everything close to the breakdown was easy meat for the Harwich defence and they failed to make any serious threat to the Owls’ try line.

The Harwich backs were starting to show what a serious threat they were going to present to the home defence as they strung together a series attacks that stretched the Peterborough team to their limits. Control of the set piece combined with strong running from the Owls’ forwards kept the home side on the back foot and the link play between forwards and backs was giving Harwich the vast majority of possession.

Centre Kimberley Hutchins made a break from her own half and brushed off some last gasp tackles to score the first try. After this, Harwich scored at regular intervals Yas Amber scorched through a gap in home defence to score from a well worked set piece move. Hutchins again had too much pace for Peterborough after they had been opened up by some lovely passing and running from the Owls’ back line. Fly half Mimi Montgomery was now controlling the game and again put Hutchins clear. She unselfishly gave a pass to Naomi Dobner over the try line to score a try that rewarded her excellent support play. Montgomery finished the first half with her own try showing not only pace but also the strength to brush aside four tacklers. With Hutchins converting three of the tries, Harwich were ahead 0 -31 at half time.

The visitors made some changes at half time but these made little difference to the performance. The visiting forwards continued to limit the home team’s amount of possession as well as forcing them backwards with some powerful runs from all the pack. The running lines and support play meant Harwich were playing the game at a very high pace that was taking its toll on the big Peterborough team. Two bits of quick thinking by forwards Beth Lemessurier and Abi Cutts saw them both score well deserved tries and good handling by the backs saw Amber and Hutchins cross the line again.

Annalise Allan glided through the defence to score and Hutchins rounded of the scoring with her fourth try. Allan converted five of the six tries scored in the second half… and the one failure hit the post!

This was a performance that was marked by exemplary teamwork and individual brilliance. It leaves the Owls with a league record of won seven and lost one. Most importantly, it demonstrated that this team have improved meteorically this season and play some of the most attractive rugby on offer.