Harwich show promise and pride at Southwold

Southwold are currently sitting fifth in London 3, two leagues above Harwich so the Low Road side were great underdogs in this fixture. With a number of regular first team players unavailable Harwich showed their depth in calling up Adam Palmer, Sam Male, Richard Woods and George Woodley to the squad.

From the start of the game it was apparent that Southwold were going to use their large forwards to try and punch holes in the Harwich defence. However, Harwich's defence held firm and was able to match their larger opposition and began to get the edge in the scrums and turned over or disrupted the Southwold scrum.

From this solid possession fly-half Sam Male was able kick to the corners and gain good territory. From a lineout in the Southwold 22 Harwich's backs attacked the line, the forwards then took over and after four phases George Woodley took the line on drawing the defence to give Captain Josh Leeks a well timed pass to run onto, bursting through the Southwold defence to score.

With the reliable Sam Male kicking the extras Harwich had a well earned 7 point lead after 20 minutes. The Harwich try seemed to wake the Southwold side up who picked up their intensity from the restart. Despite the best defensive efforts of Simon Palmer, David Parkin and Elliot Hawkins Southwold scored two well earned tries, with both tries converted Southwold had a 14-7 lead at the half time break.

From the restart Harwich came back into the game and thanks to a well taken penalty kick by Male, Harwich were only 14 points to 10 down.  Harwich however were starting to struggle to contain the hard running Southwold side, this lead to another Southwold try and the Harwich supporters wondering if their side was going to crumble.

Instead Harwich came right back and thanks to another Male penalty were back in the game at 19-13 down. Southwold were able to cope with everything Harwich through at them though. Harwich were getting to the Southwold try line only to be held short time and time again. Southwold then finished the scoring with another try and thus put the game beyond the visiting team. At the final whistle Southwold had run out deserved winners, 24-13.

In the end Southwold’s experience from playing in London 3, two leagues above Harwich, was the difference between the two sides. Harwich however can be extremely proud of their efforts and showed what the side is capable of. If Harwich are able to replicate this performance in their remaining league fixtures they will be extremely difficult to beat. This Saturday the Low Road side are away to Felixstowe and hope to pick up their first victory of 2016.

Report by Shane Manning