The Bees have been on an excellent run, winning 6 in a row in all comps and putting the pressure on those at the top of the league. In conditions reminiscent of the Somme, which only second row James Gulc is old enough to remember, the Bees were looking to extend this run to 7 and cut the gap at the top to 4 points with a game in hand, and 1st and 2nd to play in the final two games of the season. A 'well-resourced' side saw 11 of the 15 who started the previous game against Sutton Coldfield take to the pitch, bolstered by Harry Twinberrow and Chris Milburn - who are well versed to rolling round in mud - and Ciarán O'Connor who's looking to return from injury. Given the 1st XV game had been called off for a dangerous amount of slippy mud, the expectation was that the Bees would be playing on a surface resembling the 4G on which the lads have been training during February... Alas, 2 minutes into the game only George Bostock and Adam Owen were distinguishable in their red and white shirts...

On a quagmire of a pitch, it was expected that conditions would have the best of the game, and Harbury's front row had a fun time going from scrum to scrum, whilst Joe Hunt looked to emulate his hero Andy Goode, by putting boot to ball at every opportunity, making the Manor Park fullback deal with the consequences. From one of these high balls, Chris Woodhams raced through and won a penalty bang in front, allowing Matt Carter to open the scoring at 3-0.

It wasn't long before Harbury added to this score, as Chris Milburn scooted off the base of the scrum within seconds of coming on, and found Woodhams again on a fine angle. Woodhams found Hector outside him, and the auxiliary back did the rest as he stepped inside the fullback to score his first try since returning to the club. Carter added the extras well for 10-0.

Blink and you'd miss the Bees extending their lead to 17-0 on the cusp of half time, as Danny Coyne intercepted a pass with his back, generational talent Joe Hunt picked up the ball and claimed an assist for Hector to add his second, as he chipped and chased, making it all look too easy. All in the assist really. Carter made it 3/3 with the last meaningful kick of the half.

Good first half performance with the game well in hand, and it got better only minutes into the second half, as a scrum in Manor Park's half allowed Milburn to go blind from the scrum, and achieved what he's thus far failed to achieve for the 1st XV this year as he weaved through to score. Carter added the extras from a difficult angle for 24-0.

With the game in control it gave a good opportunity to get minutes in the legs, with Harry Twinberrow coming on and Sam Haden making his first appearance in some time, winning a scrum penalty with his first involvement, and showed off his Dirty Duck moves as he bounced a Manor Park attacker, saying 'not tonight pal.'

DotD was secured by George Bostock not long after, as he denied the Bees one of the tries of the season by not passing to Andy Boag on the outside after a flowing move from our own 5m line, losing possession in the process. Thankfully Andy wasn't denied for too much longer, as turnover at the scrum allowed the backs to flex their muscles as the ball went through the hands (not Bostock's) and found Andy for the shockingly clean winger to run round the outside and score under the sticks, as the Manor Park coach screamed 'first team' at the top of his voice. How much you pay him to shout that Andy? Carter added the extras for 31-0.

There was time for Seymour to add some gloss to the performance as he strolled under the sticks following an offload from an unrecognisably muddy player, maybe Harry Twin? And Carter added the extras for 38-0. A few lads on the other hand did manage to stay remarkably clean, with Dan Boag knocking a ball on so he didn't get too muddy, with rumour circulating he'd forgotten his towel. Dan Ridges was denied a try and a muddy shirt as Woodhams wanted to prove he wasn't a first team player and threw the ball to ground instead of providing another assist. Luckily for Manor Park, the referee blew for full time before 3 more bus loads could arrive from Harbury to bolster the ranks... no a genuine second team and the lads should take the complaints as a compliment for how well they played.

7 in a row and the league title in sight. Dan Bennett picked up MotM for an experienced performance at 9, but there were a number of very good performances with Danny Godfrey also impressing on his return, especially in the carry, whilst Hector was typically excellent. Big few weeks to come for the Villagers.

Up the Harbs,
TW (1st XV Match Reporter... Sorry Manor Park)