Fine Away Performance Sees Off Bugbrooke

The first half saw Harborough with the advantage of the slight slope but attacking in to a blustery wind which made kicking for territory almost impossible. Several changes from last week’s squad due to injuries and a couple of unavailabilities handed opportunities to players who themselves were returning from injury to slot back in to the starting side.
Harborough’s scrum was dominating their hosts and it didn’t take long for Number 8 Chris Bale to take advantage as he sauntered over the line after a scrum on Bugbrooke’s 5 metre line. Laurence Joel added the extras. The home team responded as would be expected from a side who sit towards the top of the table. Great running lines and handling from Bugbrooke’s skilful back row and pacey back line, who’s number 8 was directing play, allowed them to string multiple phases together and mount sustained attacks. With the wind behind them they were a threat from all over the park and it required resolute and organised defence from Harborough to prevent any tries from being conceded. At one point the home side looked certain to score in the corner after a line break saw their player racing up the pitch but a fantastic joint cover tackle Harry Durham typified the commitment to defence that this side has shown over the season.
As well as the scrum, the line out was working really well providing the backs with the kind of ball they thrive on. Several breaks, often against the run of play, almost allowed Harborough the chance to extend their lead but it took until close to the end of the half before any further points were added. Josh Purnell scored in the corner from close range after some great work from the pack to create clean ball in the opposition 22.
The windy conditions made the conversion a tough ask and with Bugbrooke getting only a penalty from all their hard work the half time score was 12-3.
The second half started with Harborough now with the advantage of the wind and it didn’t take long for them to assert control and extend their lead. 2 tries from Milkha Basra, one of them an interception from just inside Bugbrooke’s half and two conversions from Laurence Joel took the score to 26-3 and Harborough were dominating. With the pack so strong at the set piece and breakdown Jake Fordham had the time to attack the defensive line and set the backs going. The backs are now playing much more as a unit and looking to put each other in space which is proving fantastic to watch. This season has seen the emergence of new combinations which are now really gelling and credit to the coaches and the players for what has been achieved out wide. The quality of the handling and the pace of the attack in the wide channels was causing Bugbrooke problems. In the tight James Melody’s work over the ball and strong carries from Stu Bale were forcing Bugbrooke to commit men tight. It was therefore only a matter of time before more space opened up somewhere on the pitch and eventually Chris Bale broke through and scored his second of the match. The conversion made it 33-3.
Bugbrooke then hit back with a deserved try after some strong running from their winger to take the score to 33-10 but Harborough soon responded with 2 further tries of the won to put the result beyond doubt. Some great work from Milkha close to the opposition’s try line put Dan Rycroft over for a try. Dan hadn’t long been on the pitch after coming on for the injured Harry Durham who had sustained an injury early on in the match but played on as long as possible like the hero he is.
Not content with just the 1 try, Dan went over again from close range when he picked a solid hard line to break Bugbrooke’s line.
The home team scored the final try of the day to make it 45-15 to the Blackcats at the final whistle.
Harborough’s forwards had been outstanding, not just the 8 who started but the 2 subs who came and provided a real impact. In difficult conditions away from home and against a good side they laid the foundations for this important victory which keeps Harborough second in the league. The backs made full use of the ball they were given and despite having to change things around during the game due to injuries the quality of the play never dropped.
After the game the devilishly handsome Head Coach Joe Hill remarked with a glint in his eye and his customary winning smile;
“We asked for an away performance to be proud of and to impose our brand of rugby on the opposition. We did that today, possibly for the first time all season away from home.”