Wellingborough 22 - 40 Market Harborough

Harborough produced a much improved second half performance to overcome Wellingborough at Cut Throat Lane to take the bonus point win.

Poor defensive organisation in the first forty minutes proved Harborough’s undoing as they struggled to take hold of the game despite having the beating of their opponents in the loose. In contrast, Wellingborough started strongly and were unlucky to not be awarded a try after only a couple of minutes. The referee adjudged the the ball to be held up over the line. Poor defence is not something the Harborough faithful are used to seeing ,but it was a lack of organisation and communication around the ruck area that was leading to missed tackles in the tight, and providing space for the home side in the wider channels.

Wellingborough's pressure paid off as they opened the scoring and indeed looked to have Harborough on the ropes for much of the first quarter of the game as many unforced errors and poor execution prevented Harborough from building any momentum of their own.

However, the visitors eventually got on the scoreboard after a great kick return from fullback Harvey Slade, who made a line break with some lovely footwork and just like he did on so many occasions last season, Milkha Basra provided great support so when Slade drew the last defender Basra was there to finish. The rest of the first half was tightly contested as neither team were able to put enough phases together to create the pressure or space required to add to their scores.

Harborough did make line breaks through the centres, with Loz Joel to the fore, but were unable to finish them off to give them some breathing space.

Eventually, Wellingborough scored two further tries to keep them well in the game but Harborough answered with two of their own. First through Fin Clarke wide on the right wing and then through Harvey Slade, meaning the first half ended with the game tied at 19 all with Joel converting two of the three tries.

Wellingborough took the lead early in the second half via a penalty goal kicked by their excellent fly half but Harborough had regrouped at half time and their defence was much improved, repelling some strong phases of play from the home side.
Eventually this solidity paid off, and provided the platform to ease away with further tries from the backs. Basra scored two to complete his hat-trick, and Joel finished one of his own searing line breaks with a delightful chip and chase over the last defender.

The final score of 22-40 gives Harborough a bonus point and leaves them in 6th place ahead of a home game against Derby next weekend.

During the game

"Six tries and a 40 points to 22 victory sounds good on paper but in truth it could and probably should have been more if chances had been taken and there had been a bit better control through the phases. It's still early in the season though and seven points from the first two games is a great start at a very competitive level of rugby. The players should be applauded for their efforts and they are focused on improving each and every week.

During this game there were league debuts for Rob Forster at scrum half and Kyle Merrigan at hooker, so congratulations to those guys. Josh Jones made a great impact when he came on in the second row with some great takes from kick offs and solid carries. " - Joe Hill, 1st XV Manager.