Harwich Owls vs Romford GP Ravens

Harwich Owls 22-12 Romford GP Ravens 8th December 2019

Harwich Owls welcomed Romford Ravens to Low Road on Sunday in the last game before the Christmas break.
After losing for the first time this season in their last outing at Hackney Harwich needed to get back to winning ways against a forward dominant Romford side.
Romford were on the ascendancy from the opening kick off and the Harwich defence was under the cosh for the first ten minutes of the match resulting in back to back penalties pushing The Owls back to their try line, from 5m out a quick tap and go saw the Romford forwards power over The Harwich line for the first score of the match, the extras were added for a 7-0 Romford lead.
Harwich needed a wake up call and that was it, Romford were put under immediate pressure inside their 22m line, surging runs from Mimi Montgomery, Carmel Leak and Tasha Bray, who was eventually held up in a maul resulting in a 5m Romford scrum, Romford tried to kick clear from under their posts but it was a poor effort, it was returned quickly and after several good quick phases from The Harwich pack, Beth Lemessurier powered over in the corner for an Owl try, the conversion missed but The Owls now had a foothold in the game at 5-7 as the half ended.
The second half saw The Owls up their game and camped inside the Romford 22m line, pressure on The Raven defence had them concede a penalty, trying to clear their lines a hard hit by Sian Smith and Lauren Richardson turned the ball over in a maul, The resultant scrum saw Mimi Montgomery pick up and charge away from the scrum, she offloaded to Carmel Leak and the final pass to debutant winger Jodie Teale gave her a clear run to score, the conversion missed but Harwich now had their noses in front 10-7.
Harwich now had Romford on the back foot and constant power from the Harwich pack in scrums and line outs gave Romford very little in outlets to clear their territory, a scrum penalty gave The Owls a line out and from the resultant kick, another penalty off of the line out found The Owls on the Romford 10m line, quick thinking by Carmel Leak who caught the entire Raven defence napping with a quick tap to sprint clear and run in to score under the posts from 40m out, fly half Dani Allsopp kicked the conversion for a 17-7 lead to Harwich.
The Owls saved their best for last with centre Genevieve Croll ripping the ball away from a Romford runner, Beth Lemessurier took the ball at speed to break free down the right wing, and as she was tackled a superb line from Lauren Richardson received the pass again at speed to make more ground, the final pass to flanker Sian Smith, who was faultless in her support play all game burst through the final Romford defenders to touch down for a superb try, the conversion was unsuccessful but with only a few minutes left to play Harwich led 22-7.
As The Owls made the final push for the bonus point win Romford broke clear of the tiring Owl defence and scored with the last play of the game, the conversion missed but The Owls ran out 22-12 winners.
Next game for Harwich Owls is away at Stanford Sirens in the new year on 5th January.