Tough day at the office

It was another glorious early autumn day for Harborne to make the short journey to Water Orton for their first away game of the season against Old Saltleians. Harborne were anticipating a tough game as Old Salts were only demoted from Mids 2 last season.
Harborne began the game with the kick off taken by fly half and club chairman, Chris Keogh. The first period of the game proved to be tight with neither team backing down in defence although it was clear that Salts possessed a larger free running pack and a talented scrum half, at least on the rugby field …
Salts were proving extremely aggressive all over the park with one player even emitting what can only be described as the growl of an angry Chihuahua when attempting to tackle Will Arnold. Grrrrrrr
Harborne took the lead with a break up the right hand side of the field. A last gasp tackle was made but a quick recycle allowed Will Arnold the split second he needed to throw a magical over the top miss pass to the ever green Mark Wright to dot down in the corner. Conversion missed by Keogh from out wide.
Unfortunately this was then cancelled out by a double score. The aggressive Salts Captain, clearly an avid reader of The RFU Core Values and “Polishing signet rings for Dummies” crashed over from close range. The second was added as a break by Salts through our 10 channel was well finished by their 9. It was clear that Salts were attempting to flood poor Keogh’s channel with ball carriers making it impossible for him to stop them all.
Salts then scored a further try making the score at half time 19-5.
It was clear at half time that Salts were playing good physical, running rugby but Harborne were not far off the pace and there was space out wide. The team were optimistic that with the wind and the slope we could get back into the game in the second half. One change at half time, Stuart Mason for Ste Worton in the front row.
The opening to the second half was as cagey as the first. Harborne had a number of near chances but were unable to convert.
The changes then followed with Greg Telford taking the field for a bleeding, Adam Bowley and Kip Withers for a hobbling, James Riley.
Unfortunately from that point Salts’ superior weight and power in the forwards began to tell. Salts scored three quick tries, one converted.
Harborne’s tackling was letting us down and we were being too passive in defence allowing Salt’s forwards to build up speed before the attempted tackle.
Fortunately through, Harborne did manage to salvage some pride thereafter by a try through flanker, Ciaran ‘Machine’ Murphy, hitting a hard line off 9 to stretch over for the score. Thoroughly deserved try for Machine who tackled like a mad man throughout the game often against forwards twice his size. Keogh with the conversion.
There then followed some back and forth with Harborne again missing out on several chances out wide.
Then stepped up Aidan Watkins. Aidan has long been a player with great potential and he showed it during a blistering outside step and break down the wing before the pass inside to Mark Wright who drew the last man and put it inside again to centre, Emir Hirji to score under the posts. Keogh with the conversion.
A great break by Aido.
There ended the game at a final score of 36-19 to the hosts.
A good although disappointing game for Harborne.
Harborne’s next game is at home game this Saturday against league favourites Shrewsbury. With a couple of new boys to be added to the squad, hopefully Harborne can bounce back from two disappointing defeats in style!
Man of the Match Rory Humphreys for his performance on Friday night…