H&D 10 – 8 Basildon

Now playing in the second stage of the league competition, with the Counties 2 Essex league now split. H&D faced Basildon in the first round of the Counties 2 Essex Shield Pool A. After a run of six loses, which started with a 29 – 22 loss away to Basildon in mid-November. H&D were looking to get back to winning ways.

The game was closely contested throughout the eighty minutes. With both sides having equal spells of possession in what was a physical competition. Basildon opened the scoring after fifteen minutes, with an unconverted try. 0-5. The Basildon defence was well organised and quick off the line throughout the match, forcing errors from the home side.

Andrew Sterry broke the deadlock for the home side before half time. This was his eleventh try in eleven appearances, in what has been a fantastic season for Sterry. Lewis Williams converted the kick to put H&D into the lead. 7-5 at half time.

Basildon had H&D on the back-foot for the majority of the second half and the home side were struggling to create any clean-cut, scoring opportunities. The H&D defence stayed resilient throughout. Robert Wood stopping the visitors taking the lead, holding-up the ball over the try line.

Eventually, Basildon were rewarded for their hard work., when the visitors were awarded a penalty in front of the posts and opted to kick. 7-8 to Basildon.

With five minutes left to play, H&D had a spell of possession in the Basildon half. With Basildon leading by one point, the game was on a knife edge. With the final play of the game H&D were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Lewis Williams stepped up to convert the final kick of the game, winning the match for H&D. Final Score Harwich & Dovercourt 10 Basildon 08.

After a run of narrow losses and below par performance, Harwich & Dovercourt will now look to build on this winning performance going in to the remaining matches of the season.

Next Saturday. 11th February. H&D travel to Grays, where they will play Pegasus Palmerians, 2:30pm Kick Off.