On a quite filthy day at Gladstone Park on Saturday in which 10th hosted 11th in what was a must win game for both teams an arm wrestle on a pitch already cut up from a previous match the same day was won by the home team who had a game plan for the conditions which ultimately gave them the match by 8-7.
In a poor quality match hampered by worsening conditions and a pitch that struggled to cope with two games in the same afternoon, rain and wind it wasn’t hard to see why these two sides were holding up the rest of the table. The home team had a simple game plan. Win their own ball, a couple of thrusts from their forwards and then bang it as far down field as possible and make Harrow play from deep. It was exactly the right format for the conditions and ultimately it won them the game. In a game when I can barely remember a break by either side in the whole 80 mins Harrow persisted in trying to move the ball whenever possible and got absolutely no-where. In the end their tactics played into the hands of the home team and Harrow with no plan B, no kicking game, went home with a losing bonus point whilst Kilburn moved 5 points above us. Even on a firm pitch in excellent conditions Kilburn never looked capable of hurting us from anywhere on the pitch but we barely looked to turn them the whole game, rather consistently putting it through our hands, unable to make the hard yards against a resolute defence. For me the whole match was encapsulated in one brief period of action. On the 60th minute Harrow won good ball on the half way line which they moved right. The home team full back came into the line to cover the move, two Harrow players against two Kilburn players no cover. 50 metres of open ground. It cried out for a kick. Worse-case scenario the home team would have to play from deep and Harrow would have been another 30 yards up field with good position. Nope a wild pass out to winger over his head. Ball back to Kilburn and we never got out of our half again except to kick off 18 mins later.
Kilburn kicked an early penalty and for the rest of the half was played pretty much in their half with Harrow playing with the benefit of a slight slope and breeze. In a game of almost no notable passages of play Harrow secured a penalty on the 10 metre line which Gibson pushed into the left hand corner with a lovely strike. Good lineout ball won and Harrison was tackled just short with the home team hooker all over him preventing release. Off he went for 10 mins to the bin. Harrow took the scrum and then moved the ball right. Lovely miss ball to May saw the centre go over untouched to the right of the posts. Straight forward conversion 3-7. Half time
The second half was notable for nothing. Loads of honest endeavour from both sides. Nothing else
At 76 mins Kilburn put up a high up and under dropped 10 metres out. From the resultant scrum, Kilburn drove and drove until they finally got over about 10 metres to the right of the Harrow posts. Conversion missed 8-7 and that was the game
Horrible game in horrible conditions. Nothing else to say

Andrew Smart