Harrow 21-5 (HT- 8-5)
A brilliant day at Grove Field. Plenty of old friends not seen for some time made the effort to join us for the afternoon, plus some new ones from Tabard who put on a table of their own and on top of that a ladies table. Tremendous Over 100 sat to an excellent meal of sausages, vegetables, mash and onion gravy followed by a choice of sweets and cheese and biscuits. Well done to Linda for the excellent spread, to Lesley who put so much effort in organising such a great day, to Lesley, Jon Allan, Bernard Bevan-Davies, Magoo, Annette and Rod Nicholas for all their help setting up. To Paul Stern, Lisa, Nellie and Lois for all their hard in the kitchen, to Clare and Debbie who as always ran a busy bar with humour and energy. To Len Cole, Matt Henry, Lesley and Hannah Wyatt, John and Jean Thomas and Roddy and Julie Grant for their generous donations to the raffle, to John Dietman and Henry Skidmore both unable to make the lunch for their donation of two barrels of Church End beer. Best wishes extended from everyone to Mike Stear and John Batten who would normally be with us as they fight their dreadful illnesses.

And then onto the game won by the home team by 21-5 that maintained the league leaders 16 point lead at the top of London 2NW. To be honest it was a poor quality game played in difficult conditions but at the end of the day the result was far more important than the performance. Tabard had come to Harrow on the back eight consecutive victories and were the form team in the league. Harrow on the other hand were coming into the game without their inspirational skipper Chris West, scorer of 24 league tries already season, probably the most influential player in the league and also their main play maker in fly half Derek Byrne. The question was how would Harrow cope without these two crucial players and although for long periods of the match especially in the first half playing into a strong breeze, they were under the cosh from Tabard's formidable pack, they showed enough character and determination and when really required the class to finally put this difficult ugly match to bed. Harrow kicked off facing towards the pond pitch playing into a strong wind. Belying the conditions Harrow looked to move the ball at every opportunity and at 4mins they got their reward for the enterprise with the first points on the board with a penalty from Witney on the 22 in front of the Tabard posts. 3-0. Tabard were now much more in the game using their big forwards to drive into the Harrow defensive line but at 11 mins the home team now against the run of play went further ahead. A ball spilt in midfield was kicked through by Witney and although Tabard got back to defend their line they conceded a five metre scrum under their posts. Tabard put on a tremendous surge and although the Harrow scrum went back at a rate of knots they managed to get the ball out right and with Witney coming in from fullback making the extra man he was able to put Smith over in the corner. A lovely try to brighten up a pretty turgid game. Conversion missed 8-0

Tabard then had their best period of the game almost completely dominating the forward exchanges, superior in both the scrum and line out as their disciplined well drilled pack rumbled towards the Harrow lines. If they had a back line to compliment their outstanding forwards they might have been out of sight by the break. However a combination of some outstanding defensive work by the whole side combined with the weaknesses right across the Tabard back line meant that Harrow were never really stretched out wide and were able to defend in numbers around the ruck and mauls. However on 31 mins Harrow conceded one too many penalty at the breakdown and Whitcombe was on his way to the bin. It was the first of seven yellow cards in the match with Harrow receiving four including a second for Whitcombe that was to see him removed permanently from the field. Anyway Tabard kicked into the corner and from the resultant lineout drove over to score in the left hand corner. Conversion missed 8-5. Although Tabard continued to dominate 8-5 was the score into the break. The second half continued in much the same vein with Tabard continuing to dominate possession but now playing into the wind they had neither the ability or ambition to get behind the home team and into their 22 where they could cause damage. They continued to drive through their outstanding forwards or used the box kick but overall the home team proved equal to that challenge Harrow however continued to struggle to get quality ball and although they had the benefit of the strong wind it made for a pretty dull spectacle. At 51 mins Harrow's problems with ill discipline continued. This time it Dave West on his way for 10 after a high tackle which saw his opponent joining him for his retaliation. The penalty reversed Harrow kicked into the Tabard 22. From the subsequent attack the Tabard backs were adjudged offside and Harrow secured a penalty to the left of the Tabard posts.. Kicked by Witney 11-5. At 61 mins the situation got even worse with Whitcombe receiving his second yellow card of the match which of course turned into a red after continuing to grapple with his opponent after the whistle had been blown after he had been cleared out illegally at a ruck. His opponent was also yellow carded and the match continued with 14 aside. At 71 mins with Harrow once more on the Tabard 22 pretty much in front of the posts they were awarded another penalty when the Tabard scrum half was adjudged offside at a scrum. Easy pickings for Witney 14-5 and Harrow now had the breathing space to finally close the match out. There was still time at 76 mins for the referee to sin bin two more players one from each side for a bit off pushing and shoving after a maul before at 78mins Witney secured another Tabard box kick on the halfway line. The ball was moved left where quick hands amongst the Harrow backs created an overlap for Owens. The centre showing good pace got outside the covering defence along the left hand touchline and then showed too much strength for the full back to go in under the posts. Converted by Witney 21-5 and that was it. Harrow without their two most influential players had secured a really important victory against the form team in the league. Tabard for their part deserved much more from the game. Their forwards were excellent and with a couple of backs and some pace they will be a formidable side. They have done marvellously well to turn the losses of the first nine games of the season into eight consecutive wins and they will continue to cause problems for the rest of the season. Harrow continue to show that they have the character and spirit to grind out victories even when things are not going their way and that they have the players who have the ability to take the opportunities when they come. Harrow showed two moments of real quality in the match and both led to tries.

For the rest Hammersmith and Fulham, who we next welcome to Grove Field on 21st March picked up the spoils at Harpenden winning a close match 17-11 as the two second placed teams squared off whilst Chiswick secured a huge try bonus point victory at Hemel to go 2nd equal with H&F. With four to play, 20 points available, Harrow need 5 more to take the title.

Andrew Smart