H&D II 27 - 15 Colchester IV

Harwich Low road ground was uninviting cold, wet, windy and to boot heavy under foot for this week encounter, but to the credit of Harwich and Colchester sides and match official produced an entertaining open Game of rugby despite the condition and to the pleasure of the rugby faithful on the side line.

Mid Table Harwich took on the mantle of underdogs as they hosted Colchester who sit comfortably above them in the league standing showed little respect for the form book as they put in a hard shift to dominate possession.

Despite taking the lion share of the possession Harwich were struggling to convert into points with an error strewn start, whilst holding territorial advantage they settled with a penalty kick to settle the nerves and put points on the board, which Colchester were quick to cancel out with a penalty conversion of their own.

Both side struggled to find any sort of rhythm trading points tits for tat as neither were able to establish dominance, it was Colchester resolve and determination with the counter attack keeping them in contention has Harwich were reluctant to give up the ball although they did take the lead when Mark Sanders-Crook finally finished off Harwich’s protracted attempts to break the Colchester defence with an unconverted try.

Colchester responded once again breaking from their own twenty two for a converted try against the run of play to take the lead for a short period of time, As Harwich picked up their game tempo up stepped father and son Combo Sean Mills Jnr and Snr. who demonstrated their contrasting rugby pedigrees, Sean Junior look sharp in only his second turn out of the season was slicing the Colchester defence at leisure whilst Senior was doing the dirty hard graphed in the forwards, Sean the younger running evasive lines breaking the defence for dad and his fellow forwards to crash over the line, George Brunning have the honour of touching down with Adam Eldrige converting.

Harwich were doing most thing right but the final touches were just letting them down as their game failed to ignite giving Colchester again the opportunity to poach yet another break away try as their efforts and heavy pitch were taking toll.

Whilst the back were growing in confidence and containing their opposition it was the forwards in the zone and making the big yards, Mike Cowley growing in confidence at No.8 and John Skargon regaining his form following return from injury making big runs, but it was the old silver fox Mark Sander-Crook who was running like a puppy and hitting like a freight train who crashed over the line for his second try, Eldrige converted giving the Harwich side renewed confidence as the visitors heads dropped.

Harwich finished off the game strongly with a try from Ryan Boyne with his second try in as many weeks to close out this hard fort contest.

Harwich Man of the match was award to the mercurial prop Mark Sander-Crook following his inspired performance.

This week Harwich 2’s are away in the league to Mersea.

Report By Andy Bray.