Harwich and Dovercourt 38 Newmarket 6

At Christmas they were second from bottom of the league, now they are are fifth from top and relishing the game against table toppping Ipswich YM this Saturday. Harwich now look a more settled and consistent side, particularly in the forwards. The back line, although it did a splendid job on Newmarket, still await the return of key players such as the skipper Sean Mills, Joe Francis and Adrian Dalby. Competition for places will only push the team on further.

This game started well for Harwich when in the 7th minute the winger Nick Favilino, who is playing some dynamic rugby at the moment, kick upfield. Gathering the kick the ball was fed along the backs to Simon Keen who passed it on to, man of the match, Jay Hatcher who scored the first of his four tries in the corner. Sam Male notched up his first conversion of the afternoon to make the score 7-0. Harwich were in control at this point and had many drives on the Newmarket line but couldn't break them down.

The big Newmarket side had their moments and half way through the first half had players such as Robert Edgar, who had another great game, making try saving tackles on the line. It wasn't until 35 minutes of thee first half when Harwich extended their lead. From a Newmarket lineout on their own 22 Edgar nicked the ball and made a mazy run down the blindside. Hatcher linked with him and finished by scoring his second try. with the conversion missed Harwich were 12-0 up. But then Newmarket staged a mini comeback. So many times this season Harwich have given away soft points once they appear to be dominating and again in this game they gave away two penalties to make the score 12-6 at half time.

However, within three minutes of the restart Harwich were back in the lead. Scrum half Kier Blacker showed his class by nicking the ball off his opposite number in a scrum. Kyle Hutchins laid the ball to Clark Simpson who fed it out to Hatcher to score his hat trick try. With Male converting Harwich were 19-6 up. But again Newmarket applied pressure right on the line but Harwich held up.

In the 60th mniute Edgar made another great break from his own 22. Favilino took the ball on and found Hatcher ready to score his fourth try of the afternoon. Male put the ball over to make the score 26-6. With the game out of Newmarkets reach, Harwich began to play some flowing attacking rugby. The prop Clark Simpson made a break through the middle of the park as if he were a centre. The ball came to Blacker who kicked long and high. With the Newmarket defence unable to control the ball Edgar notched up a well deserved try. With the conversion missed Harwich were 31-6 up.

To finish the afternoons scoring Hutchins made a terrific break down the left field. Simpson made naother great run through the middle and linked with Blacker who fed in Favilino to score. Male nothced up another score to make it 38-6.