Harwich hit top form right from the off against costal rival Clacton amassing a strong 38 point lead without reply before the half time break with tries from James King, Richard Woods, Sam Male, Ian Fluke and Sam Jewell.

Harwich No.8 Richard Miller was full of running making good ground with strong support from the pack helping to gain vital territorial advantage giving a solid platform for the home side and it wasn’t long before King was able to cross the line out wide for the first try as the Clacton defence was stretched.

Harwich continued to pile on the pressure through the forwards as they camped on the opposition line before Richard Wood demonstrated his athleticism for force his way over the line thanks to a committed rucking and mauling display.

It wasn’t all about the forward’s on the day as the backs were proving just as effective, with Simon Keen at No.9 providing the vital link between backs and forwards and Sam Male at stand-off the attacks were coming from everywhere, Keen and Male with strong jinking runs as they sniped, as the centre of Guy Williams and James King ran freely with slick interchanges and passing exploiting the gaps and wings Ian Flook and Captain Sam Jewell together with Full Back Craig Wilson they pressed and Harwich played open and expansive fifteen man rugby as the point came.

Although Clacton rarely ventured into the Harwich half it took a structure well discipline approach from the home side to contain the visitors efforts, Guy William putting his trade mark tackling display hitting anything that moved, Hooker Grant Rayner in his first competitive game of the season showing his experience in the thick of it as he repeatedly turned over ball in the loose and was winning more than his fair share and scrums with a little help from his fellow forwards.

As the game resumed it looked like more of the same with Harwich quickly on the scoreboard again following a line out on the Clacton five meter line, the ball going loose was cleaned up by Sean Mills who was first to react but was unable to secure the try but recycled the ball and the following phases of play saw the ball go out wide for Keen to split the defence.

The home side struggle to reach the level of play they demonstrated in the first half and as the Clacton team’s confidence grew they mounted sustained attacks finding themselves camped in the Harwich half for long periods of time for which they were rewarded with a well-earned try for their efforts.

There was little to choose between the two teams for the remainder of the game, Harwich struggling to cope as they played into the early evening sun, but credit to both set of players they battled the remainder of the game out each securing a further try.
Harwich man of the match was awarded to Grant Rayner.
Match report by Andy Bray