Harwich 17 - Haverhill 20

Jimbo · Harwich 17 - Haverhill 20

Harwich vs. Haverhill – Eastern Counties League II

1. Ben Jones
2. Paul Bergin
3. Grant Deeks
4. Martin Ransome
5. Tony Smith (Alan Bennet) (Alex Wong)
6. Chris Flannery
7. Carl Anderson
8. Ryan Raffel
9. Simon Lester
10. Jake Plumbridge
11. Brodie Patrick (Bradley Deeks)
12. Bradley Gibson
13. Adam Hunt
14. Joe Brown
15. Mike Woods

Harwich 17 Haverhill 20

Team Effort Rewarded.

Harwich T - Craig Bennett, DG – Kier Blacker, P – Sam Male 3
Haverhill T Raffel, Woods C - Plumbridge 2 P - Plumbridge 2

With captain Ryan Raffel and stalwart Paul Bergin back in the team, Haverhill had injuries from the previous week carried over with Stephenson and Clayden still out, but fielded a class line up for the top of the table clash on the Essex coast. With a sloping pitch and an end to end wind, Raffel chose to play against the wind and up the hill first half, which was inspired.

From the off, Harwich pressured Haverhill and on 5 minutes, with a penalty awarded, Kier Blacker for Harwich dropped a goal for a 3-0 lead. On 8 minutes the lead was doubled with Sam Male adding a penalty awarded for not rolling away from the tackle.

From the restart Haverhill pressurise and Harwich drop the ball for a scrum, which was lost, but a great charge down by Tony Smith adds to the pressure on the Harwich line, and birthday boy Raffel picking up the ball and diving over the ruck for a score under the posts, converted by Jake Plumbridge. 6-7.

On 20 minutes, Tony Smith goes off with possible cracked ribs, and replacement Alan Bennet is off one minute later with an Achilles strain, seeing Alex Wong take to the second row position and turning in a performance that almost secured the man of match award.

By now, Haverhill are in the Harwich half and wins a penalty, missed by Plumbridge. Some good tackling by Brodie Patrick and lovely play by Raffel off the back of the scrum keeps Harwich on the back foot. The front row of Grant Deeks, Bergin and Ben Jones were also incredibly active in the loose play. Finally on 30 minutes, Harwich break into the Haverhill half for the first time in 15 minutes and win a penalty, which is converted by Male. 9-7

Haverhill come back and are awarded another penalty, missed by Plumbridge, and then a move by Harwich sees another penalty kick taken by Male for 12-7 on 35 minutes.

From the restart the referee spots hands on the floor and bins Haverhill’s Carl Anderson for 10 minutes. A move by Harwich sees Blacker diving through, but he is hit by a huge try saving tackle 5 M out by Martin Ransome, cleared by Chris Flannery for the last play of the half. Haverhill now has the wind and slope to play with.

From the off Haverhill use the wind superbly and win a scrum. Even with a man down Haverhill boss the scrum, but lose the ball 10 M out from the Harwich line and a break out sees Harwich’s Craig Bennett cross the line under the post on 42 minutes, the conversion amazingly missed by Male, 17-7.

Haverhill would normally have their heads drop, but come back again and camp on the Harwich line. At the point where Anderson comes back on the pitch, Harwich lose their second row man Joseph Hunt to a card for handling on the floor. The penalty is missed by Plumbridge, but on 48 minutes Haverhill get three points from a penalty by Plumbridge 17-10.

Harwich try to clear into the Haverhill half, but two great tackles, seconds apart by Joe Brown leads to a scrum for Harwich, which is totally destroyed by Haverhill who push towards the Harwich line. On 62 minutes, a penalty in front of the posts is run by Haverhill, who luckily get a second chance and decide to take the points with Plumbridge converting. 17-13. Brodie Patrick is subbed by Bradley Deeks.

Still camped in the Harwich 22M, on 70 minutes, Harwich kick to clear, only succeeding to dink the ball up for Flannery to catch and pass across the line for Mike Woods to score in the corner, brilliantly converted by Plumbridge for a three point lead 17-20.

Finally Harwich break into the Haverhill half, but a series of great defensive plays and a calm approach leads to Haverhill clearing from their 22M and taking the whistle, and top spot on the table.

The referee was superb in the game, being fair and harsh in equal measure, leading to a very good flowing game of rugby.

On a personal note – Thanks Bishy for your work with sport in Haverhill over the last few years. We are going to miss your enthusiasm. Good luck in Weymouth.

Director of Rugby Andy Price quote “A great all round performance achieved the desired result.”

Echo Man of Match – Ryan Raffel

Jim Morgan Swimming Pool Road, Harwich

Scoop

Jimbo

Good to see report up after a great game.

Needs some proof reading on the score by score front.

Jimbo

Found it scoop.

Thanks.

Raff

Hi Jim,

great write up again. Thank you.

Ryan Raffell ( yes 2 L's )

Jimbo

Thanks Raffy.

You know, I put 2 L's and then I did a find replace and changed it to one L.

I suppose I was thinking you had "one L" of a game.

I will let Bishy know and get him to change it.

Jimbo