Both teams started very brightly, with strong attack and defence, but Loughborough kept a very good shape and then dominated most of the match, particularly in the first half. scoring or coming close each time they came forward with very exciting, fast back line moves following hard work by the forwards. Loughborough scored five tries with two conversions and none conceded in the first half, and a further three converted tries in the second. To their credit, Market Harborough did not let their heads drop, did not give up and managed to score two tries themselves in the 46th and 54th minutes of the second half. Overall the line-out, rucks and mauls, scrums and tackling were dominated by Loughborough. The conditions were ideal - sunny, dry, warm, with hardly any wind and soft but firm ground. Try scorers for Loughborough were Ben Jackson (7th minute), James Hickling (16th minute), Harry Jackson (23rd and 37th minutes), Tom Bradshaw (27th and 67th minutes plus 5 conversions to make him top scorer with 20 points), Pat Revell (35th minute) and Christian Czerniak with his first for the club (49th minute). At half time the score was 29 - 0 and full time 50 - 10. Backs coach Will Hoey said that he thought that the performance was the best of the season so far and that the team looks in good shape. Head coach Andrew Jackson said that he was very pleased with the result, the defence, the attacking moves and ambition and the levels of effort and intensity, and he welcomed back Sam Emmett from long term injury and wished Joseph Livesey a speedy recovery. He thanked Freddie Peace for his guest appearance and selected Tomasz Williams as Loughborough’s man of the match. Next Sunday (18 March) Loughborough U17s are away to Shrewsbury in the National Midlands Division Bowl semi-finals and also have a Leicestershire County Cup semi-final away to Market Bosworth due to be played on Sunday 15 April, with the winners facing Lutterworth in the final on Sunday 29 April.
Squad: T Bailey, T Bradshaw, W Bussey, M Cannon, G Cornes (Capt), C Czierniak, S Emmett, L Flack, K Grobler, K Hewgill, J Hickling, B Jackson, H Jackson, C James, E McCrorie, R Morgan, D Nassau, G Reed, P Revell, J Schwarz, J Tinkler, T Williams. Guest appearance: F Peace.