Twos fall to Brightlingsea away

But it was Brightlingsea who boosted their promotion challenge as Harwich put in a rusty hit and miss performance.

Harwich started off the stronger retaining ball possession from the kick-off, shipping the ball through the hands only to suffer an interception pass from the home defence to run in unopposed for a converted try.

The heavier and more experienced Harwich pack dominated the scrums early doors and were also able to make good ground with powerful running in tight, Sandy Sanders-Crook Mike Cowley, Richard Miller, Richard Woods, Robert Wood, Nick Logie, Dave Southgate, Andy Hannan and Sean Mills all linking up and relishing the opportunity and physicality giving the visitors territorial advantage.
Contesting a scrum inside the Brightlingsea 22, Harwich dominance showed as they won the ball against the head giving No.8 Richard Miller a strong platform to break from the back to force his way over the line to touch down, Craig Wilson splitting the posts to restore the status quo.

The visitors keen to maintain the momentum continued to push but had little time on the ball as the Brightlingsea defence were on their heel pressurising and pouncing on any mistakes at every opportunity were able to regain the lead with two further unconverted tries before the break as Harwich were punished for an uncharacteristically high number of missed tackles.

Brightlingsea started the stronger from the restart and were able to extend the lead with another try, the younger home forwards giving the
Harwich pack the run around in open play to break the gain line, as the visitors tried to contain the advances they suffered the loss of influential Lock Richard Woods as he fell foul of the referee to receive a yellow card.

The fourteen Harwich men battled hard but with fatigue setting in and Brightlingsea full of running even the fierce tackling of Guy Williams, Craig Wilson, Sam Jewel and Chuck they couldn’t stop the home sides advances as they secured a further converted try.
Not a team to give in Harwich dug deep, playing for pride they raised a brutal assault on the Brightlingsea line the forwards battering their way towards and over the line for Nick Logie the touch down, Wilson converting to close out the game.

Despite the ups and down of the Harwich performance Harwich skipper Oliver Bray says the team is full of character and will build the positives aspects to take into next week encounter when Harwich II’s are at home to Stowmarket, KO 2.00pm.

Report by Andy Bray