Writtle 27-33 H&D

Harwich & Dovercourt RUFC travelled to Chelmsford, to play against Writtle Wanderers in their latest Essex 1 league game.
The game started off very well for Harwich as they dominated possession of the ball. The forwards were setting the pace with some fantastic work, dominating the scrums, line outs and rucks.
The first try came through Man of the match Simon Palmer, who finished a good forwards move, receiving a short pass from Josh Leeks. Sam Male converted the try to make the score 0-7.
Harwich then put the pressure on again straight from the restart with some good handling and good running lines. This inevitably lead to the second try of the match through Sam Male, after some slick handling from the backs. Male converted his own try to make the score 0-14.
Adam Palmer then scored a great individual try. Chipping over the advancing defence from 15 metres inside his own half, he chased his kick, managing to get his foot to the ball and won the race to touch the ball down over the try line. Male converted to make the score 0-21
Writtle, who had been deprived of possession, replied with a try which came from Harwich’s silly errors. The try was not converted to make the score 5-21.
Writtle then scored a converted try to make the it 12-21
Five minutes before the end of the first half, Adam Eldridge was sin binned for a high tackle taking Harwich down to 14 men. Writtle converted the penalty to make the score 15-21 at half time.
Writtle started the second half the better team by scoring the opening try of the half.
They failed to convert the try leaving the score 20-21.
Simon Palmer then scored his second try of the day, muscling over from short distance. Male converted to make the score 20-28.
Writtle then gained a penalty for a high tackle from Nemani Ledua, which led to a second yellow card for Harwich.
Harwich defended very well to keep Writtle at bay, repelling several attacks from the home side.
With Harwich back to 15 men the forwards again showed their class by out scrumaging the Writtle pack to allow Simon Palmer to go over for his hat-trick try. Male missed conversion, score 20-33.
Writtle replied with a converted try of their own, to make the score 27-33.
Writtle gained another advantage through a penalty inside the Harwich 22. Ledua was deemed to be offside which led to a second yellow, resulting in a red card, and Harwich were down to 14 men for the remainder of the match.
Harwich, defending well, were able to retrieve the ball, make ground and keep possession to see the game out.
Final score 27-33 to Harwich.
Captain Brunning said “I am pleased with how the team played together today, to get another win away from home was brilliant. We stuck together as a team, when we went down to 14 men three times. Which is a testament to the team”.
Harwich face Mersea at Low Road next weekend.

Match report by Adam Eldridge.