Templars 12 - H&D II’s - 43

Halstead still thirsty for a first win over the visitors despite some close encounters in the past demonstrated their intent from the off as they dominated possession and territory keeping the Harwich defence busy as the big ball carrier battered the defensive line to great effect, but it was against the run of play with Harwich making are rare visit into the opposition half with the big hitting Richard Woods, Matt Green, Damien Smith & Sean Mills Snr. hitting up and drawing in the defence to release the back to exploit the wide space created with Full back Adam Eldridge hitting the line from deep to touch down for a try which was converted by Craig Wilson.
The lead was short lived as Halstead stuck to the game plan which soon resulted in an unconverted try as Harwich run out of defenders.
The Harwich pack whilst being competitive were having to adjust as they were unable establish the Forward dominance they had established in previous encounters between the teams where using the back to great effect Craig Wilson, Sam Jewell and Danny Horrigan proving as effective in attack as they were solid in defence as they stretched the Halsted defence and with Wings Ian Flook and Ryan Boyne and Full back Adam Eldridge all keen to join the full of running the visitors were starting to find a rhythm to their game, retaining possession and creating a small cushion before the break with Boyne and Eldridge both touching down with a single conversion from Wilson.
Game still very much in the balance it was Harwich who were in the ascendency and playing with a belief that had been missing earlier in the game now Sean mills snr was in the zone making a usual nuisance of him getting down and dirty with the big forwards Dave Southgate, Oliver Bray, Richard Woods, Simon Woodley, leaving the back row players Matt Green and Damien Smith together with regular No.8 and make shift prop Richard Miller the freedom to roam the park linking up with the backs and ruling the park as they tightened their grip on the game.

Harwich’s Mark Bowe impressed at Scrum Half was providing the vital link between forwards and backs as they extended the lead first through Ian Flook on the wing then with flanker Damien Smith tacking up the No.8 breaking from a 5 meter scrum taking the defence with him Jamal Schut in support as he forced his way over the line, neither try converted.

Keen to close out the game Harwich rang the changes with the introduction of fresh legs in the pack with Pete Day and Ben Eldridge joining the fray with Matt Green unusually shifting from No.8 to the wing where he could exploit the space out wide forcing the defence to overstretch and with gaps opening up in defence Harwich full back Adam Eldridge was able to create a great individual try when he gathered the ball on his own twenty two to jink his way to the try line evading any would be tackles, Wilson converted.

Halstead did give themselves a life line another converted try but Harwich were ruthless in response as they switched the restart which they collected thanks to Eldridge who was able to draw in the defence to release Matt Green into the space created to touch down unopposed for Wilson to convert and close out the game.

Although the Harwich teams game was a bit hit and miss at time it was one of their most committed and satisfying performance and they had to dig deep in a game which was running away from them and whilst the flattering final score line would indicate a comfortable victory it was anything but and shows an injustice to Halstead sides performance and contribution to the game.

Matt Green making a welcome return to the club was crowned man of the match for a dominate display despite have to play out of position at No.8 and also on the wing.