South v Market Harborough

I thought this week, I'd post the match report that Market Harborough have completed, so we can see how they viewed the match (photo is also courtesy of Harborough!)

"Market Harborough Vs South Leicester RFC U15s

South Leicester are always a squad that put on a fine display of rugby, so Harborough were expecting their mettle to be tested today. The ground was soft and the sun was shining as the game kicked off.
From the off South showed that they were determined to break the run of defeats at Harborough's hands. Rugged and solid in the forward play they pressed hard against a rather relaxed Harborough squad and soon had them defending hard within the twenty two. South were putting in some determined attacks at this point, quicker to the breakdown and showing all the signs of snatching an early lead. Somehow Harborough held steady though and blocked every effort that South put in. Oli Hoare and Captain Will Adams proved their worth time and again as Flankers making short work of any South advances around the scrum and ruck. On previous meetings Harborough have dominated but today they were having to work extra hard and were struggling to get out of their own half. Both sides, probably suffering from a bit of post Christmas blues, were making some simple handling errors. After a prolonged attack by South a sloppy pass fell loose and winger Seth Vials took the opportunity to put a nice grubber kick through and chased hard, neck and neck with a defender he put in his finest Harborough Town FC style footwork and somehow managed to get clear enough to land the ball for five points, the conversion was missed though. The try came from an opportunist move and certainly seemed to be against the weight of play. South kicked off and returned to applying a full head of steam in attack. Harborough were gritty in defence and they held South back but most of the attacking was coming from the home team. In almost repeat of the first try Scum Half Geordan Bedford kicked a loose ball through and the team gave chase. Prop Charlie Power broke the line and landed the ball for a second try and Bedford converted to put Harborough twelve points ahead. Ahead of the half time whistle Adams fell victim to the new law changes and was given a yellow for a tackle deemed too high.
Despite being behind after all the effort they had invested South hit the ground running for the second half and soon had Harborough defending hard as the pressure was piled on. This half however Harborough were more confident and made some neat breaks in return. Prop Thomas Dyson making a notably spirited spring through the South defence gaining considerable ground before being tackled. Power lived up to his name more than once as he stripped the South attacks of the ball in maul. South put in a quality clearance kick placing themselves within five metres of the Harborough try line and following the line out, which they won, finally looked to have the upper hand as Harborough scrambled to defend. A series of infringements meant Harborough were having to defend on the line. South looked certain to score, but, poor handling and a strong defence thwarted again and again until at last the ball was kicked clear. Harborough now pressed hard in return and a slightly frustrated South had to now put in as much effort in defence as they had in attack. They held their ground well before kicking overhead and giving chase. The kick was caught in the Harborough twenty two by Fullback Jack Rowlatt who accelerated back toward the South try line. Punching through the defenders with the pack in support he found himself clear of defenders and with nothing but space between him and the posts. The defenders tried to keep up but Rowlatt was at full pelt now and nothing was going to stop him claiming Harborough's third try, confidently converted by Fly Half Will Dawson. South took the restart but the high kick was caught ably by Flanker Dan Hands who then flew at the defenders breaking two tackles before he was brought down deep in South territory. The pack rucked and recycled quickly swinging the ball out left through the hands to Vials who took off at an altogether unreasonable speed leaving the defenders in his wake to land his second and Harborough's fourth try. Dawson converted again to put Harborough up to twenty six points. Determined to the end South pressed the attack hard again. Harborough defended with passion not least a tackle from Centre Ben Marshall that most of us on the touchline felt never mind saw. At this point though Harborough found themselves on the receiving end of some unexpected infringement decisions and were driven right back to their try line where South finally managed to bulldoze through a well earned try and a conversion. The game ended with Harborough very much on the attack
South Leicester, despite the score, had proved themselves a quality outfit with some spirited and skilful rugby, and certainly proved that no team should ever underestimate the opposition whatever the history. Our thanks to South Leicester for their hospitality and a splendid game of rugby.

Final score

South Leicester 7 Market Harborough 26"

Clearly Market Harborough were impressed with our play this week and rightly so. For vast periods of the match we were camped in their half and 22". We produced some lovely phases of play, with Callum scything through their defence numerous times and the pack really taking the game to the Harborough forwards. Our determination paid dividends with Luke crashing his way over for a great score and Callum slotting the kick. With some better handling and some decision making, the score would be have been very close ! We must keep the opposition on the back foot and take quick opportunities when we can. We must always play as a squad and stand united with each other. For the first game back after a long break you did very well and we must build on this for out next match against Newbold at home.

Man of the match this week, was Callum Smith who again had a stormer ! Well done Callum.

Enormous thanks to Samantha Payne for sponsoring the match. !!