Harwich and Dovercourt 23 West Norfolk 10

Having lost their two previous games against the two teams at the top of the table Harwich made short work of the team below them. With a bonus point added for a fourth try Harwich could be pleased with their afternoons work. Looking back however they might realise they that could and should have doubled the scoreline.

Right from the off Harwich were in rampant mood with skipper Sean Mills Jnr leading the back line with vision and pace. After only three minutes driving forward play saw Harwich push west Norfolk back towards their own lines. Mills then gathered the ball passing it along the back line before retrieving it himself and scoring in the far corner. With the conversion missed Harwich were off to a flyer.

West Norfolk gradually began to find a foot hold in the game and for quarter of an hour pushed Harwich on their goal line. Time and again Harwich displayed the resilience in defence they have shown all season. The opposition couldn’t break through with players such as Simon Palmer throwing themselves into every tackle.

With a penalty won in the 30th minute Harwich pushed up field where from the back of a scrum Palmer picked up and scored. Sam Male missed the conversion but Harwich were now 10 points in the lead. Five minutes later Harwich got a penalty after a forward drive. With Male converting Harwich were 13-0 ahead.

Like the previous week the forward pack took the game to the opposition. Props Paul Sewell and Jay Hatcher who are both having an outstanding season gave the backs a platform to build on. But it was man of the match Kyran Green who won all the plaudits with his magnificent display around the field.

On the stroke of half time Harwich scored their third try where a quick handling move down the left saw both Hatcher and Sewell take the ball on before Alex Cullen scored his first try for the club. The conversion was missed in the swirling wind but Harwich were 18-0 up at half time.
So many times this season Harwich have had the game by the scruff of the neck only to let the opposition back in. This game was to be no different. Frustratingly Harwich just couldn’t put in the final decisive pass when tries were begging. Adrian Dalby had a sensational run down the right side of the field only to be pulled up in front of the posts.

West Norfolk managed to get three points back with a penalty in front of the posts with ten minutes gone of the second half. And with ten minutes to go they got a penalty try after constant infringement by the Harwich players. With the score 18-10 there might have been an upset on the cards. However straight from the restart Hatcher made ground in the centre of the field the ball was passed to Simon Keen who fed in Kier Blacker to score by the posts. Although the conversion was missed Harwich had a bonus point for the fourth try and a good victory under their belts.