Harwich & Dovercourt 15 Mersea 10

Harwich and Dovercourt 15 Mersea 10

Harwich laid down a marker for the rest of the season with this win against difficult opponents. Relegated last season, Mersea were always going to be a test for this young Harwich side. With a strong and experienced forward pack Mersea would prove to be a hard team to play against.

And yet Harwich did not look like they were going to take a step back or lose at any stage of the match. Indeed, the Harwich pack did more than match the intensity of Mersea. Youngsters such as Jack Cairns, Kyran Green and Robert Edgar put their bodies on the line in order to break down the large opposition forwards. While front row debutants Shane Manning and Jay Hatcher showed a touch of class and power.

The first ten minutes saw Harwich encamped in Mersea’s half as a variety of attacking Harwich play was broken down. An illegal challenge provided Sam Male the chance to celebrate his return to the side, after nearly a season out injured, with kicking three points. A war of attrition then set in with both teams fitting to gain control of the game. Harwich scrum half Julius Abwanzo had a splendidly brave game as did fly half Kyle Hutchins.

On twenty minutes Mersea pulled the score back square with their own penalty but Harwich replied immediately with Male kicking another. There was no let up in the intensity of the play but no one could make the final defensive break. Right on half time Male kicked his ninth point of the game with another hard won penalty. With the half time score at 9-3 Harwich knew they were in for a tough second half.
Within two minutes of the restart, however, Harwich went nine points ahead with Male kicking yet another penalty. But within five minutes Mersea replied with a well worked try which carved Harwich up through the middle. With the try converted Harwich were leading by a slender two points.

At this point Harwich’s summer of hard work paid off. Time and again players such as man of the match Adrian Dalby made huge tackles in the middle of the park to knock the stuffing out of any Mersea attack. The Harwich forwards didn’t give any space or mercy to the tiring Mersea pack. The only blight was a serious leg injury sustained by Cairns as he made yet another tackle.

With time running out Mersea were going nowhere and it was for Male to finish the afternoon with a penalty near the death. At 15-10 Harwcih had won a tough physical encounter with some focused and determined rugby.

This Saturday Harwich are away to Ipswich YM with a 3pm kick off.