H&D Owls 24 vs 07 Bury Foxes

Harwich Owls kicked off their 2017 league season with a home game against Bury Foxes.

A large crowd turned out to watch an entertaining match with Harwich fielding a strong team against the newly promoted Bury side. The Owls started quickly and soon had Bury on the back foot with only a few lose passes keeping the score at 0-0.

Eventually with the consistent pressure on Bury it forced them into a poor clearance kick which was gathered in by Kim Hutchins, who ran across the Bury defence and offloaded the ball in the tackle to winger Annalise Alan to score in the corner.

The conversion was missed by Alan.

Harwich scored soon after the restart with Bury again finding themselves under pressure inside their 22, turnover ball resulted in a penalty to Harwich from which a quick tap and go by fly half Mimi Montgomery saw her crash through the covering defenders to touch down under the posts, Annalise Alan made the conversion to make the score 12-0.

The third owls try was a team effort, with the forwards completely dominating scrums and line outs a strong scrum saw the Bury pack going backwards and a quick set of passes through the backs saw Poppy Flatt score in the corner, Alan missed the conversion but at half time The Owls had a comfortable 19-0 lead.

After the break Harwich hit self destruct and found themselves going backwards with a series of penalties and poor tackling, Bury asserted themselves back into the game and Sinead Collins managed to score a try under the posts, the conversion made the score 19-7.
The game slipped in quality when uncontested scrums were introduced after injuries and inexperience in the Bury pack forced the ref to ensure player safety was uppermost in focus.

Harwich rounded off the scoring when at last they managed to get Bury on the back foot, good continuity and quick recycled ball had the visitors giving away a penalty, Mimi Montgomery again took a quick tap to score her second try which Annalise Alan converted.
A good opening day win and some excellent flowing rugby was displayed, Harwich Owls play against Chelmsford Ladies in their next game at Low Road on Sunday 8th October.

Report by Josh Edwards