Harlow Rams 25 Old Brentwoods 27
13th February 2016

Merit Table

THE Rams season is going from strength to strength and on Saturday, although going down by two points against Old Brentwoods, they put on a display that drew nothing but praise from the ever growing number of home spectators.

The home team, a large number of whom were still playing Colt Rugby last season, took to the field of play against their much larger opposition and from the first whistle took the game to the visitors with a total disregard to either the size of their opponents or to the heavy defeat which said opponents inflicted on The Rams earlier in the season.

Intense early pressure saw The Rams camped in the Old B’s twenty-two and when Mitchell Hodgkinson powered over in the corner in the 5th minute it appeared the pressure was going to tell. Alas, not to be; the ball forced from his grip at the very last moment.

A missed opportunity but any relief felt by the visitors was to short-lived; Jack Almond carving through their outside defence before slipping the ball to Ashley Westall; 5-0.

This early score was soon to be added to when Hodgkinson powered over from the side of a maul; 10-0.

The visitors replied with two scores of their own before Jack Christy crashed over in the corner; halftime score 15-12.

The second half didn’t quite start as planned, the Old B’s pack forcing an early score for the visitors; 15-19, followed by an intense period of Rams defence as the large visiting forwards tried to exploit their physical superiority.

Both teams traded successful kicks at goal before the visitors finally forced an opening in the home defence and ran in an unconverted try; 18-27.

At the start of the season this late score would have signalled the end of The Rams resolve but this squad have developed a steely attitude and a desire to win at all costs resulting in Old B’s finding themselves finishing the fixture under the same intense pressure that they were under at the beginning as the young Rams threw everything into the attack.

There was only minutes left on the clock when Chay Clark finally forced his way through the defence. Taking the ball up in the Old B’s twenty-two and breaking through three defenders to touch down by the lefthand upright; 25-27. Final whistle.

The Rams are at home again this Saturday in a Merit Table clash against Old Cooperians.

Tries: Westall, Hodgkinson, Christy, C. Clark
Conversion: C. Clark
Penalties: C. Clark