A Tale of two Markets

Any game against Market Bosworth is always going to be exciting and today's away game on Remembrance Sunday was no different. Before kick off all players, coaches and supporters gathered on the Bosworth first team pitch to observe a two minute silence in honour of the fallen. A timely reminder of our debt to those who sacrificed all so that we have the freedom to play. As the players prepared for kick off it was not the only remembrance that they had on their minds, there was also last years narrow defeat by a last minute try.
Bosworth were quick to apply pressure and enforce their strong hand, but despite some hard work in the Harborough 22 they were broken and driven back with a hearty drive from number 8 Ben Marshall. A scrum within the Bosworth half was lost to a penalty for an early drive. Bosworth kicked overhead but the lazy punt was easily captured by fullback Jack Rowlatt who ran through a disorganised defensive line to put Harborough five points up. A strong cross wind made any place kick a real challenge and despite a fine effort William Dawson's conversion attempt went wide. Bosworth unsettled but determined came back at Harborough and a battle of nerves at the breakdowns ensued. A lucky break saw Dawson put a neat little grubber kick through the Bosworth back line, in hot pursuit he kicked again and again as he drove onwards to the Bosworth posts like a reverse engineered William Webb-Ellis, attempting a final drop onto the ball as it crossed the try line he somehow managed to knock on, and the Bosworth kicked clear from the resulting scrum. The follow up line-out however was won and with some slick passing by Joe Harrison, the ball was moved out right and wide to Tom Wainwright whose pace proved too much for Bosworth as he ran in try number two. The wind again thwarted Dawson and the conversion was not to be. Bosworth were not to be so easily outdone, with heavy pressure in the Harborough 22 they gained a few penalties and finally a scrum on the 5 metre which they expertly turned into a try but despite having the wind in their favour were unable to convert. Another excellent sprint from Wainwright was cut short just before the try line but Harborough regained their composure and a scrambling of rucks in the centre was broken by a marauding Ben Marshall who picked up and drove like a man possessed across half the pitch to claim Harborough's third, and gallant effort from Dawson failed yet again to grab the extra two points. Harborough maintained the pressure until the end of the half with some excellent backs work allowing left wing Louis Van Den Berg to make a real nuisance of himself.
Bosworth having misjudged Harborough started the second half with a more serious attitude. Pounding the Harborough forwards they met their match though with Harborough's front five. Max Halls, William Henderson, Theo Barre, Matthew Robinson, Josh Guerrio who consistently rucked them away. A line out was turned by Thomas Melody and once again neat passing from Scrum Half Alex McGregor through Fly Half Daniel Hands and out wide to Tom Wainwright led to a fourth try as once again his pace proved too much for the defenders. This time with the wind at his back Dawson drove the ball right between the posts to claim his first conversion. Buoyed by their success Harborough let the focus slip and Bosworth punished them with a superb sprint from the halfway line, a conversion brought their score up to a more respectable 12 points and put them back in the running. Realising their error Harborough immediately countered, once again loose play from a line-out ball and some solid rucking allowed Dawson to make a break, and a quick sprint saw him over the line for his first try which having regained his kicking boots he swiftly converted. Seeing their chance to press home a victory Harborough went all out. The ball handling in the backs made for some entertaining rugby, Elliot Coxon putting in some excellent drives into the Bosworth backs causing them all sorts of problems. Some superb rucking in the centre of the pitch found Bosworth over committed, Thomas Melody fell on a loose ball and popped a neat pass up to Wainwright who carved a path through the defenders to claim another try which Dawson, now with his tail up, yet again converted. The last fifteen minutes of the game was to be an ordeal for what was now a clearly tiring Bosworth, as their energy levels clearly started to drop Harborough were still on fire. The front row of Charlie Power, Barre and Henderson had the upperhand in the scrum, providing secure ball for the backs. Melody once again demonstrated his flexibility, having moved from centre to hooker, proved that he has pace as well as strength. A courageous run through opened up a gap for nippy scrum half McGregor to exploit and he planted the ball between the sticks for the seventh try which Dawson once again converted. Bosworth rallied but were clearly on the back foot now, through the pressure applied by our flankers, Will Adams and Sam Dexter. As Harborough drove them back into their 22, and they became pinned against their try-line, Marshall bulldozed his way through to claim another try once again converted by Dawson.
One last hurrah before the whistle, came from a tidy kick over from Dawson; Wainwright went in hot pursuit but was unable to make contact as the ball rolled out of the goal area and the final whistle blew.
An outstanding game with great performances from both teams, but it was Harborough who proved the strongest this time.
Final score
Market Harborough 48 Market Bosworth 12