In the end Harrow got the points but it was a game that they could easily have lost and it must have been heart breaking for the home side who had been leading until the very last second of the game. Perhaps the fairest result might have been a draw but Harrow had earned their bit of luck and the four points especially after our win last week at home to Letchworth shows that this team are now finding their feet at this level.

It was a scrappy game which might have lacked quality at times, played in difficult conditions with defences to the fore but no one could fault the desire or application of both teams who fought so hard for every bit of possession and for every yard.

Harrow kicked off playing into the teeth of a strong wind blowing hard towards their right hand corner flag . One of the Harrow coaches told me that it should be a 14-17 point advantage to the home tea. That it wasn't was down to a superb first half defensive performance by the visitors who when they had the opportunity looked to put both pace and width on the ball. That much of the first 40 minutes was played in the Harrow half was understandable but but the fact that Barking were not able to take any real advantage was down to a really creditable defensive performance by the visitors who more than matched them across the pitch and were much more dangerous with the ball in hand. Their defensive application was really impressive and all parts of the Harrow game stood up really well except for the line out where we had all sorts of problems nevertheless it was not until the 26th minute that Barking put the first points on the board with a penalty for offside in front of the posts, 3 – 0. At 29 minutes Barking gained a further penalty this time on the half way line. It must have been about 50m but the Barking No10 who had a fine match, struck the ball sweetly. It had the distance but the wind pushing so strongly into the right hand corner pushed the ball onto Harrows right hand upright and the score remained at 3-0 which was the score into the break.

Harrow now had the elements but yet again it was their opponents that were able to raise their game making hard yards through their big forwards. Even when at 47 minutes Barking went down to 14 when their blind side flanker went to the bin for another offence at the break down the visitors simply could not take advantage. It should have been the game changer but Harrow could not get their hands on the ball and conceded penalty after penalty. At 55 minutes despite still being down to 14 Barking pushed their way up field finally earning a 5m scum. A pick up by their No8 and their winger was over at their right hand corner, conversion missed 8-0.

With their problems continuing in the line out, the loss of dangerous centre Vincent with a bang and an inability to get their hands on the ball, despite the advantages of the conditions, it was difficult to see how Harrow were going to get back into the game. However at 65 minutes it all changed. inside his 22 the Barking No8 who had made good ground every time he had been in posession of the ball inexplicably with men outside him decided to kick. it was charged down by Byrne and Mark Gibson picked up the loose ball and showing good pace and an eye for the line ran in from about 15m. Alan West nailed the conversion to the left of the posts and Harrow were back at 8-7. The line out that had been such a problem then started to work as a dream as Harrow looked for the score that would give the match but Barking to their credit defended as if their lives depended on it that looked like that 8-7 would be the final score when with time just about up the referee penalised Barking on their 10m line to the left of the post. The skipper had no other option than to go for the posts. it was a difficult kick even with the wind but Adam West drove it over the posts to give Harrow the game 8-10 and made him a deserved man of the match.

Special mention must be made of Tom Cosgrove called up in the morning from the Lions who had a storming match carrying the ball strongly and making tackle after tackle. Harrow might have been perhaps fortunate to take the points but it is huge credit to the team and coaches that they were able to win despite not being at their best.

Two wins on the trot after 9 losses. Still so much more to play for.

The Lions meanwhile went down 32-10 to a strong Datchworth side strengthened with players from their 1stxv who didn't have a match.
Not in the spirit of the competition. The match report by Howie Gosling is on the 2ndxv page

Next week the 1stxv host Chingford in the league

Andrew Smart