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Sat 05 Jan 2019 · London 3 North West
Verulamians
1st XV
5
58
Harrow see in 2019 with dominant display
Andrew Smart5 Jan 2019 - 18:02
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After 20 matches Harrow finally win away
And so after 722 days and 20 matches Harrow finally won away in the league. Our last previous victory was on the 14th January 2016 when we won 24-14 at Hammersmith and Fulham in a match refereed by former international referee Tony Spreadbury. Today’s try bonus point victory by 58-5 and nine tries to one, at the league’s bottom club has been a long time coming and for all the Harrow faithful who have followed the 1stxv across London in all sorts of conditions and through all sorts of performances whilst I won’t pretend it made up for all those bad times it was a chance to see the New Year in, and in some style.
Harrow had a much changed side from the team that had played OMTs to see out 2018. The coach will have been delighted with all his players and especially with the changes but I would think that the return of Leaman and Mark Gibson gave him the most pleasure. Both were outstanding on the day and consistently got Harrow over the gain line time after time. Gibson at 10 had a superb game. He gave Verulamians a torrid time both with the quality of his passing off both hands but also with a series of searing breaks from all over the field that always kept his outside backs interested
On a cold but dry afternoon Harrow kicked off playing down the slope and it was clear from the start that the home team were in for a difficult afternoon. At 8 mins 10 metres out from the V’s line a dominant Harrow scrum took the first of many against the head and as the V’s scrum went back in disarray Leaman picked up from 8 and had too much strength to be stopped. Difficult conversion close to the left hand touchline 0-5. At 15 mins V’s were penalized in front of their posts for offside. Easy kick for Argent 0-8
At 17 mins another dominant scrum on the half way line saw a lovely break from scrum half Driver. He made excellent progress down the left hand touchline and with the cover coming across a lovely pass to Burnett on his inside saw him cross over and go behind the posts. Easy conversion 15-0
At 29 mins a lovely break on the half way line by Gibson saw him make great ground down the left hand touchline. Again another lover pass inside saw Manning go over and then under the posts. Another easy conversion 22-0
Finally on 4o mins Harrow had a 5 metre scrum close to the right hand touchline. Pick up from Leaman pass to Kirby saw the big winger over in the corner for the try bonus point. Difficult conversion missed. 0-27 which was the score into the break.
At 47 mins another searing break by Gibson on the V’s 22 a switch with Armitage-Brian saw the centre in to the left of the posts. Conversion made 0-34
At 52 mins the home team kicked the ball into touch just past their 22. Quick lineout by Driver to Gibson who moved the ball left and Burnett went over for his second. Conversion missed 0-39
At 57 Armitage-Brian was sin binned for a high tackle followed shortly by Burnett for offside. Down to 13 V’s pushed Harrow back to their own line after some concerted pressure finally forced their way over in the right hand corner. Difficult conversion hit the post 5-39
At 72 mins Leaman gathered a high kick on the half way line made excellent ground before finding Boyle outside him. Although held up somehow the hooker got the ball back to Leaman who went over unopposed to the left of the posts. Conversion missed 5-44
At 74 mins a super break by Burnett on the half way line, pass out to Manning who made more ground before a clever pass inside saw Burnett finish off to the right of the posts. Three for Burnett who had another fine match. Straightforward conversion by Argent 5-51
Just about on time Harrow got a penalty on the half way line taken quickly by Gibson who cut through the V’s defence, initially looking for someone to pass to he found himself unopposed and went in under the posts for a well-deserved try to cap an outstanding performance. Easy conversion 5-58 which was the final score
Next week we host top of the table London Welsh ko 3pm
Need to get through the two hearings on Monday night at the east India Club with the citing for the skipper and red card for Tony Brennan before we know what the team will be for next week
Andrew Smart
Harrow had a much changed side from the team that had played OMTs to see out 2018. The coach will have been delighted with all his players and especially with the changes but I would think that the return of Leaman and Mark Gibson gave him the most pleasure. Both were outstanding on the day and consistently got Harrow over the gain line time after time. Gibson at 10 had a superb game. He gave Verulamians a torrid time both with the quality of his passing off both hands but also with a series of searing breaks from all over the field that always kept his outside backs interested
On a cold but dry afternoon Harrow kicked off playing down the slope and it was clear from the start that the home team were in for a difficult afternoon. At 8 mins 10 metres out from the V’s line a dominant Harrow scrum took the first of many against the head and as the V’s scrum went back in disarray Leaman picked up from 8 and had too much strength to be stopped. Difficult conversion close to the left hand touchline 0-5. At 15 mins V’s were penalized in front of their posts for offside. Easy kick for Argent 0-8
At 17 mins another dominant scrum on the half way line saw a lovely break from scrum half Driver. He made excellent progress down the left hand touchline and with the cover coming across a lovely pass to Burnett on his inside saw him cross over and go behind the posts. Easy conversion 15-0
At 29 mins a lovely break on the half way line by Gibson saw him make great ground down the left hand touchline. Again another lover pass inside saw Manning go over and then under the posts. Another easy conversion 22-0
Finally on 4o mins Harrow had a 5 metre scrum close to the right hand touchline. Pick up from Leaman pass to Kirby saw the big winger over in the corner for the try bonus point. Difficult conversion missed. 0-27 which was the score into the break.
At 47 mins another searing break by Gibson on the V’s 22 a switch with Armitage-Brian saw the centre in to the left of the posts. Conversion made 0-34
At 52 mins the home team kicked the ball into touch just past their 22. Quick lineout by Driver to Gibson who moved the ball left and Burnett went over for his second. Conversion missed 0-39
At 57 Armitage-Brian was sin binned for a high tackle followed shortly by Burnett for offside. Down to 13 V’s pushed Harrow back to their own line after some concerted pressure finally forced their way over in the right hand corner. Difficult conversion hit the post 5-39
At 72 mins Leaman gathered a high kick on the half way line made excellent ground before finding Boyle outside him. Although held up somehow the hooker got the ball back to Leaman who went over unopposed to the left of the posts. Conversion missed 5-44
At 74 mins a super break by Burnett on the half way line, pass out to Manning who made more ground before a clever pass inside saw Burnett finish off to the right of the posts. Three for Burnett who had another fine match. Straightforward conversion by Argent 5-51
Just about on time Harrow got a penalty on the half way line taken quickly by Gibson who cut through the V’s defence, initially looking for someone to pass to he found himself unopposed and went in under the posts for a well-deserved try to cap an outstanding performance. Easy conversion 5-58 which was the final score
Next week we host top of the table London Welsh ko 3pm
Need to get through the two hearings on Monday night at the east India Club with the citing for the skipper and red card for Tony Brennan before we know what the team will be for next week
Andrew Smart
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