A solid performance but Harborough lose away to league leaders Olney

Harborough were forced to make a few changes on Saturday but put in a fine performance away at League Leaders Olney in a tight game that could have gone either way but in the end it was Olney who ended victorious to extend their lead at the top. Harborough were still missing their talisman skipper Josh Purnell but Dan Rycroft stepping into the unfamiliar number 9 role put in an excellent performance as did young James Melody making his first start for the 1st team. With Stuart Bale also playing his first game for the club, adding a huge presence, and Geordan Stout and Joel Nance stepping up from the seconds it showed that Harborough do have strength in depth but on this occasion it was not quite enough. Harborough started the stronger and put pressure on the Olney line but at first the home sides defence stood firm or Harborough errors prevented a score. With Henry Moss winning excellent ball at the line out Harborough were winning possession and it inevitably led to a score from number 8 Chris Bale who powered his way over the line for the try that with the conversion from Laurence Joel put Harborough 7-0 up. This became 10-0 when an Olney player received a yellow card following repeated infringements and Joel coolly slotted the penalty from 35 Metres. Both sides had solid defensive lines and there were no further scores in the first half. As the second half started both sides knew that the first score could be crucial and also that games are often won or lost as a result of small errors. The opportunity for Olney came with Harborough in the ascendancy but a drive forward was held up and the scrum went to Olney who made ground and then from a penalty took a quick tap, stretched Harborough out wide and touched down in the corner. An excellent conversion saw the deficit reduced to 3 points and this was followed by Harborough uncharacteristically losing both a line out and a scrum on their own put in and then concede a penalty which was converted to draw Olney level. This galvanised Harborough and they fought back and following great work by Milkha Basra who combined well with Harry Durham the ball was recycled to the ever-available George Lee who capped a fine performance to touch down. The conversion attempt rebounded from the upright but Harborough had regained the lead 15-10. Further pressure from Olney led to a second try for them but the conversion hit the crossbar so the scores were level. Harborough came back but were held up close to the line and although moving forward the penalty went to Olney who cleared their lines and shortly after with a ball shooting out the scrum, a little individual brilliance saw them carve through the Harborough defence to retake the lead, 20-15. It remained anyone’s game and a little more luck of the bounce might have seen Harborough regain the lead but it was not to be and a missed tackle saw Olney cross for their 4th try and although Harborough fought gallantly they could not dent the Olney defence and with time against them the game ended in a 25-15 defeat without the consolation of a losing bonus point. Head Coach Joe Hill remained philosophical after the game pointing to the positives to be taken from the game, a really strong performance against very good opposition, the return of Timmy Waterfield, whose performance showed what the team had been missing, as well as the return to fitness of some key players and the strength in depth that the club is developing. The aim of promotion remains achievable as they face St Ives, the other team in the mix, at Northampton Road on 2 February. With a 3pm kick off to be followed by Ireland v England on the TV in the Clubhouse to follow, surely an occasion not to be missed.