Owls win on the road

Harwich Owls travelled to Norfolk to resume the league after a three week rest which was evident from the start of the match with Harwich not getting a grip on the game and an error strewn first 20 minutes.

The deadlock was broken eventually with The Owls awarded a penalty on halfway, Yas Amber put a perfectly placed kick on the Lakenham 5m line. From the line out Harwich secured the ball and after several phases fly half Dani Allsop broke a couple of tackles to score adjacent to the posts, Mim Pearson converted the score for a 0-7 Owls lead.

With this The Owls settled down and started to look threatening and secured possession on their 22m line a quick hitting pass from Holly Cuozzo, playing her last game for The Owls before heading back to America, found centre Genevieve Croll taking the ball at pace and sprinting 70m clear of would be tacklers to score under the posts, again Mim Pearson converted the extras for a 0-14 scoreline.
Shortly before halftime Lakenham had Harwich on the back foot and with several penalties conceded they were pushed back to their 5m line, from one of the penalties a quick tap and go caught Harwich out and a Lakenham score, the conversion attempt missed and the half ended 5-14 to The Owls.

The second half started along the same lines as the first with an even matched affair, Harwich line out was superb all day with forward of the match Sian Smith winning most of Lakenhams throws. Another penalty to The Owls gave them chance to kick to touch and secure a 5m line out, a quick cuddle for the forwards in a maul gave Harwich go forward ball and when the backs were given the chance Dani Allsopp forced her way over the line for a brace, Mim Pearson made the conversion and a 5-21 lead for Harwich.

With The Owls again losing their discipline a penalty awarded on The Owl 5m for the second time in the match caught them flat footed and they were unable to prevent a Lakenham try, the conversion missed for a 10-21 score.

Harwich fullback Lillie Barnett fielded a Lakenham clearing kick on halfway and she started off on another scintillating run, beating the first wave of defenders she made ground to Lakenhams 22m line and off loaded to Carmel Leak who ran a stunning line at pace to take the pass and score The Owls fourth try, this time the conversion missed but Harwich had a commanding 10-26 lead.

With time running down The Owls looked though they were running out of steam and Lakenhame pulled two tries back, one a stunning 90m break from a turnover after Harwich had looked as if they were going to get the bonus point try from being on the Lakenham 5m line, both conversions missed and The Owls ran out time for a 20-26 victory.

Report by Tim Flatt