Harlow Rams 29 – Upper Clapton 13
Intermediate Cup First Round

THE Rams welcomed Upper Clapton on Saturday for the first round of the Intermediate Cup and, first half especially, put in a display that delighted the large home crowd.

From the first whistle the home team controlled proceedings and it wasn’t long before Dan Makepeace crossed in the right-hand corner for the first try of the day following an attack that encompassed both intricate passing from the backline and a little bit of brute force from the pack; 5-0.

The visitors were now struggling to contain the youthful Rams as continued attacks stretched the Clapton defence to its limit and, following a driving maul from a five metre lineout, that defence began to crumble. A Text book catch and drive and Hooker, Mitchell Hodgkinson, peeling off to crash over in the corner, the added weight of Dean Read ensuring the ball was grounded; 10-0.

Five minutes later and a carbon copy score, this time on the opposite touchline and a brace for Hodgkinson. Chay Clark adding the extras from the wide outside; 17-0.

The visitors kicked a penalty before James Clark finished off the first half scoring with a well taken try; Halftime and the home team 22-05 to the better.

The ease of the first half scoring had an adverse affect on the home team resulting in a lack of precision to the second half play and a flurry of penalties. The visitors managed to claw back two scores before Alfie Clark hammered in the final nail with a superbly taken try.

Clark received the ball just outside of the Clapton twenty-two, bounced off the high challenge from the Clapton inside centre, and accelerated in under the posts; final score 29-13.

A superb first half attacking display and a second half of dogged resiliance during a period when the game could easily of slipped away, showed that this young squad are developing and learning from every encounter.

Next round of the cup is on 12th March against Wanstead.