Harwich and Dovercourt 18 Wymondham 16

Up against the top of the table side and a team which had already beaten them this year, Harwich were up for the challenge. This was a pulsating breathless game with the young Wymondham side displaying a mean streak of speed but, as a team, Harwich were more than a match for them.

However, it only took Wymondham five minutes to put a score on the board with a penalty. Harwich responded a few minutes later when the Harwich backs showed their own skill and pace with skipper Sean Mills passing to Kier Blacker his run and quick hands set up Kyle Hutchins to score in the corner. Sam Male made a good conversion to put Harwich in the lead 7-3.

Harwich then took the game to the opponents with the interchanging back row of Jack Hale, Rob Edgar, Michael Scarfe and Ed Mayhew dominating the breakdowns. The front row forwards also showed theri steel with player/manager Shane Manning having his best game of the season. After 15 minutes Harwich missed a penalty and neither side could make a break through.

On 30 minutes Wymondham scored their own penalty to bring the scores back to 7-6. there was then five minutes of madness on both sides as the pressure increased. Edgar was yellow carded for handling in a ruck and then both Manning and a Wymondham prop forward were yellow carded for a bit of a fracas. With 13 players on the pitch Harwich went into half time 7-6 ahead.

Thins started very badly for Harwich in the second half as Wymondham scored a breakaway try under the posts to make the score 7-13. Unlike so many other games this season Harwich didn't let theri heads drop and they retained their determined body language. Although this was proving to be a good all round team performance it was Harwich scrum half Simon Keen who displayed all the zest and spark needed to win these types of games.

On 50 minutes Hariwch were back in the game when from a lineout Jason Hatcher made one of his tremendous powerful runs to score in the corner. with the conversion missed Harwich were now a point behind at 12-13. With the large home crowd cheering them on Harwich knew they were in with a chance. A few minutes later form two driving mauls, wing, Nick Faliveno scored a drop goal form 22 yards out. HarwIch were now 15-13 up.

But Wymondham were not done with ten minutes left they scored an excellent penalty to once again take the lead by a point 15-16. With the minutes ticking down Harwich missed a penalty from 25 yards. A few minutes later Male got another chance and made no mistake with a huge pressure kick which put Harwich back in the lead 18-16. With seconds remaining Wynmondham made one last charge down field and with the reaction of their players seemed to have scored a winning try. The referee deemed that it had been held up on the line by Harwich players, such as Joe Francis, who had put their bodies on the line for the cause. The game was over and Harwich had recorded a well deserved victory which should set them up for the second half of the season.