Harwich then took the game to Clacton and their short passing game paid dividends in the 25th minute, with a well-worked try in the left corner, scored by 18-year-old Adam Eldridge.

This was matched by an excellent conversion by Fox.

However, there was no further scoring in the first half and the teams turned round with Harwich leading a tight game 10-5.

Clacton received a setback within three minutes of the restart when Lee Turner was yellow-carded for an offence at the ruck.

Their task became even greater when Jerram was also yellow-carded for a scum offence near the Clacton line.

The referee decided it was also worthy of a penalty try, making for a comfortable conversion as well.

Lee Turner returned to make the Clacton numbers up to 14, but it was still Harwich who held the upper hand, using the advantage of an extra man.

Some heroic Clacton defending ensured there was no further scoring before Jerram returned to make the numbers even.

However, once more the referee intervened, deeming Clacton winger George Johnson guilty of a deliberate knock-on, and brandishing his yellow-card for a third time.

Although realising that it was not going to be their day, Clacton made a foray into the Harwich half, and spent the closing stages attacking the home line.

Despite a number of penalty offences, and an eventual Harwich yellow card, the expected penalty try never came, and Shane Jerram had to bundle the ball over the line to make it 17-10.

“I was extremely proud of how the guys stood up to a much larger team,” said Manning.

Adding “We dominated the scrums and line-outs and, again, our fitness was far superior. The lads delivered an 80-minute effort. Our young guys had never played a game like that before but looked more than comfortable.”

Harwich now go forward to meet Sudbury in the semi-final on February 14.

Report by Shane Manning