Harwich second string took the short trip round the cost to neighbours Clacton as clear favourite have put a century over their host for no reply last time the two clubs met and sitting second in the table.

The Harwich squad was bolstered with the return from injury for David Parkin and Lewis Kerley who thankful came through unscathed; they also welcomed Centre Dan Johnston for his first appearance for the club in league action.

Clacton have moved on a long way from their earlier encounter and looked the stronger from the off having added experience at Eight, Nine and Ten which was to be the back bone of their play’s throughout the game, they were dictating proceedings from the whistle and looking much sharper than the visitors, pinning Harwich back with the kick and chase out wide.

Whilst the Harwich defence was frantic at time it was holding and keeping Clacton advances at bay whilst getting in and amongst them it was twenty minutes into the game before the first points Harwich forward Mike Cowley and Sean Mills Snr. making the break in the centre of the park, having created the space waited for the speed to arrive in the form of Owen Cowley, the young centre opening his stride to leave the defence in his wake as he crossed the line, Craig Wilson converting.

Owen Cowley came close to extending the Harwich lead shortly after as he chased and collected the high ball only to trip up short of the line, but it was all positive for his side who were struggling to settle into the game despite Clacton drawing level as the No.8 ran off the standoff to crash over the line.

As the two rivals played out the rest of the half it was the boot of Craig Wilson that was the difference as he split the post with a penalty kick just before the turnaround.

The host continued to control the tempo of the game switching the game plan with the forward boshing the ball up tight and whilst the Harwich defence was up for the task they could stop Clacton crashing over the line for a converted try to take the lead for a short while.

As the legs were starting to tiring it was the strength of the Harwich bench which was to help them on their way, Lee Durrant settling in at hooker and giving a good account of himself, Justin Webb adding his weight to the second row, a fresh pair of Flanker keen to make the difference in David Parkin and Mat Green, with parking relishing the contest in the tight play, Green injecting extra pace out wide secured two tries to retake the lead with a single conversion from Wilson. Lewis Kerley also coming off the bench onto the wing showed he was well on his way to full fitness making try saving tackles, stopping everything coming his way.

With daylight between the sides it was left to Clacton the chase the game as they continued to press giving them territorial advantage to enable them to breach the Harwich defence once again with an unconverted try but it wasn’t enough as the visitors where able to keep play in the middle of the park as time ran out.

Harwich despite not reaching the level of Rugby expected this season put in a flat performance with an uncharacteristic high penalties count, showed their metal demonstrating they can dig deep to grind out a victory when it needed which has elevated them the top of the merit table, all be it with a very slender point difference to the chasing pack.

Team: M Sanders-Crook, A Page, R Kemp, M Cowley, R Woods, S Pitham, S Mills Snr, R Miller, S Fox, C Wilson, R Boyne, D Johnstone, O Cowley, D Warren, G Williams, L Durrant, L Kerley, M Green, D Parkin, J Webb.

This week Harwich it a top of the table clash as they entertain second in the table Bury St Edmunds at Low Road, KO 2.00

Report by Andy Bray