Harlow vs. Rochford Under 15s, 26 September 2010

From the resulting 5 yard scrum Musa Yuseff picked up at number 8 and ran blind to score, with Harlow having only had 2 touches of the ball, Harlow 0 Rochford 5, a brilliant start by Rochford. The following 25 minutes saw each side attacking without result, with Rochford conceding lots of territory by giving away penalties, before the Harlow number 12 ran through, to even the score H5-R5. Harlow subsequently increased the lead and this time converted H12-R5, with Rochford still unable to stay on the right side of the referee, the score remained thus until half time.

From the half time restart, Rochford managed to recover the ball and worked it to Musa Yuseff who ran strongly forward before being tackled, remaining on his feet and having been released by his tacklers, he then proceeded to attack the corner to score H12-R10. More Rochford pressure saw then turn over the ball at a ruck enabling Sean Prior to run down the wing and restore Rochford’s lead if only by 3 points. Rochford kept up the pressure looking to increase the lead and looked to have set Mitchell Bennett up with a good chance to score, he was however stopped when scragged by the collar. Following several minutes discussion with both coaches, Rochford were awarded a penalty and passed the ball quickly from one wing to the other, Kyle Bury receiving the ball ten or so yards out, jinked through several tackles, to ground the ball cleanly. The referee arrived and awarded a scrum to Harlow for the final pass being forward, the Harlow linesman, considerably closer and with far better view had not however flagged the indiscretion. With time running out, Harlow worked the ball to their tall number 12, who ran past several defenders, before being stopped by a try saving tackle from Kyle Bury. From the resulting penalty, the tackle was deemed high, Harlow knocked on about 10 yards from the Rochford line, and last play was called. With the score only 3 points apart, tensions were very high and somehow Rochford managed to lose possession at the scrum, with both teams determined to make the most of the following ruck, it collapsed, with things getting a bit heated the referee decided to call an end to the game H12-R15.

The game for the most part was competitive and played in good spirit, alas going awry in the final five or ten minutes. Rochford started both halves the brighter, Musa in particular making his impact at this time, then later in the half Harlow would exert more pressure as the half progressed. Rochford were also considerably better at throw ins this week, having lost the majority last week, but need to be more solid as a team in defence.