Balsall currently flying high at the top of the League would certainly have been expecting to continue in their winning ways.

Harbury 2s vs Balsall and Berkswell 2s 7-41

After a three week layoff Harbury IIs played host to Balsall and Berkswell IIs in the latest round of Warwickshire III action on Saturday. Balsall currently flying high at the top of the League would certainly have been expecting to continue in their winning ways. Harbury were only able to field a bare 15 and saw 6 players playing out of position to ensure the game could go ahead.

The visitors playing up the slope had the kick off as the game got underway, a knock-on by the Harbury pack from the catch somehow leading to a penalty. The resulting kick to touch put the visitor’s lineout just shy of the 5 meter line. Harbury battled hard to stop the onslaught but just 5 minutes into the game Balsall crossed the line for a converted score. The restart from Harbury put the ball deep into the visitors half but the hosts pack just couldn’t get there in time to stop Balsall’s pace men. They quickly moved the ball to the half way line and then broke up the blindside for an unconverted try. Harbury regrouped and started to keep the ball in the tight and after a series of plays were soon camped on Balsall’s line. The resulting ruck saw Mathew Holloway dive over the line for his first try of the season which was then converted by Tom Webb. Harbury were back in the game and the team rallied charges from Dan Shinkwin, Ben Buchanan brought further territory gains but Balsall’s defense held strong. Despite Harbury’s best efforts their own defence was a touch shaky and Full Back Charlie Gladden was tested time and time again. The visitors started to break the Harbury resolve and a series of breakaway scores saw them take a 7-31 lead into the break.

The start of the 2nd half couldn’t have gone much worse with Balsall scoring almost immediately, however, it remained unconverted. Tenacious play from Michael Henderson started to disrupt the back of the Balsall scrum helped by the pressure exerted from the hosts tight five. Further carries from Dan Shinkwin, Ben Buchanan and Roger Heydon forced the Balsall pack to work hard. A lack of support at times aloud the visitors to turn the ball over keeping Sam Reeves and Charlie Gladden busy at the back. Although Harbury was unable to improve on their own scoreline the only other points of the half came from a late unconverted try from the visitors.

Man of the Match was Michael Henderson

This Saturday Harbury is again in Warwickshire League action away to Old Coventrians 3s