Harborne silence the critics

It has been a while since I last penned a match report for the club, so after having watched the firsts for the last few weeks, it was time they got the benefit of a write up.

The firsts entertained Cannock on Saturday, a team who have managed over the last season or two to build depth to their club with three teams and are now showing the benefits of it. Our last outing to Cannock is one most (especially myself) would rather forget, icing torrents of rain, mud to the eyeballs, hypothermia for a number of people and even Rannulph Feinnes had refused to make the trek. Injuries galore ensued and wiped out what players we had on the park and off it too. Cannock seized their chance and twisted the knife in the remaining short period of the match to ensure they not only won but took the bonus point. In doing so, they demonstrated a ruthless streak that is needed if teams are to win promotion and top tables such as ours.

On the flipside, we as a club are very much in a re-building period looking to develop new players, narrow the gap between our 1s and 2s that has opened up over the years. We have struggled with our matchday numbers this year, under pressure to even manage a second team at times, and this is clearly reflected in the performance of the first team as a result. So two teams on very different parts of the curve were going to face off on a chilly but calm day.

The previous two weeks had seen many aspects to Harborne’s game. From the solid workmanlike performance against Telford, absorbing all the pressure they had before clinically finishing them off, to the lacklustre frustrated display at Barton that the team let slip in the opening exchanges, worked hard to regain before letting slip again in the last five minutes. This left the team wondering where in fact they are in the scheme of things and playing Cannock at home was certainly going to test that question.

The collision of two teams with a lot to lose from the result, Cannock chasing promotion, Harborne trying to pull clear of a chasing pack keen to avoid risk of relegation, was always going to be interesting, but what resulted was an outstanding 80 minutes of rugby.

Wet conditions underfoot were less a hinderance to running, as to handling the ball which became soapy as a result. Nevertheless the opening exchanges were clear that both teams had the mind to play in similar ways. Both backed their packs to make ground, and then release the backs. Tactics were similar, dictated by the slippery ball and the initial salvos came in the form of tactical kicking and lineouts. Both teams were consistent in winning their ball giving good platform for the backs. Harborne’s defensive line held firm, and tackles thundered in from both sides. Hardly a tackle was missed by either side all day, and this steadily increased the pressure on both teams respectively. Cannock were marginally quicker to the breakdown and consistently got just enough hand on to slow the ball just enough. Nevertheless the Harborne pack’s commitment to the contact area was unquestionable and bodies thundered into it both in attack and defence.

Shortly after the first ten minutes the stalemate was broken as Harborne caught clean lineout outside the Cannock 22 set and drove/rolled the maul over the line for the first converted try of the game. The pack demonstrating a newfound confidence this season in the contact area, and scoring the third try in as many weeks from a driven lineout, something the supporters of Harborne had never dreamt possible.

Further pressure ensued from Harborne, and repeated slowing of the ball at the ruck was eventually penalised and a further 3 points were added. Cannock however were feeling stung by the opening exchanges and were struggling to settle into their own rhythm. As they did so, they too demonstrated solidity at the breakdown and were able to work their way upfield for their own opening try. Half time arrived and with the scores at 10-7 Harborne had already answered the criticism levelled at them that they can be a “soft touch”.

The second half again started at a pace, both teams aware that the only separating factor at 80 minutes would likely be down to determination or error. Hits remained solid, ball was hard carried and every yard by both teams was hard earned. The match could have turned in a moment, as Harborne were down to 14 men, a foolish mistake costing us a sin bin (accidents happen and no malice was intended) but in such close games the result can be costly indeed. Harborne’s response was terrific. Pressure from the pack resulting in a well worked try and a 15-7 lead. It was not the sin bin that turned things, simply the way we responded and a lapse of concentration opened up our only gap of the day for Cannock to bring the score back to 15-14. We were soon back to 15 men, and further pressure resulted in a series of penalties within the red-zone. Experience in teams at this stage is what wins close matches such as this, and three chances past. On the other hand, Cannock returned to our line and were held out extremely well by our defence. Their moment of madness as a lone player tried to tap and go five metres out, rebuked by the team, and the simple three points taken that held them out for the eventual win despite Harborne busting every sinew to score again.

So Harborne take a bonus point, and were left to feel rightly proud at their performance, surprising Cannock, supporters and I suspect themselves too to an extent. The team barely missed a tackle, took almost all their own lineout, took some scrum against the head, were down to 14 men for 10 minutes, had the lion share of possession and territory in the second half and still couldn’t quite win it. Every player stretched themselves to the maximum, and should be really proud of that performance. One accusation that cannot be levelled at the performance is that it was soft, no way! So, the players were asking, why hadn’t they won?

The answer comes in the form of the curve, Cannock are nearing the top of the climb and we are just beginning it. Their experience told them that three points is all that is needed to win a game, and they took theirs. They rarely entered our 22 but when they did they returned with points. When down to 14 men, we worked hard to score and then let our concentration lapse for a moment, costing us, we went hunting for more points rather than slow the pace and wind the clock down. Even in the dying moments our desperation to score risked costing us the bonus point we had worked so hard to achieve. Attempting to run from 70 yards out, when the stats showed neither team had broken more than about twenty in one go such was the strength of both defences. All these minor details come with experience, nothing more. The game wasn’t won or lost by anything more than a little more experience. Harborne should be seriously proud of this performance, it was a true test of the team and squad. Heart, fitness, aggression, skill, determination, development all were evident in abundance. The rest, well that will come!

You will note there are no names mentioned and that is out of fairness. Every player in the squad excelled and could not have put more into this game. Each of them deserve a pat on the back from the club, the depth is slowly building, the game play is developing. When the experience arrives so will some very happy days!

Squad:
Roger: Outstanding work rate, stalwart of the firsts, forehead intact
Mick: Starting debut, linespeed in defence and literally head on tackling, with ball stolen against the head
Willo: thorn in cannock’s side. Dangerous with ball in hand and solid defence
Gibbo: Becoming the real master of the breakdown area, both in defence and attack
TD: whilst the legs were running, really dangerous with ball in hand
Roberto: excellent work rate and tackle count
Will: silent worker, high tackle count and excellent spoiling at the breakdown
Millsy: led from the front, ball in hand making ground, supporting, feeding Kip
Kip: superb service we have come to expect and sniping runs. Once in open play speed to spare
Robbo: assured game management with great tactical decisions to pin Cannock back
Fingers: one of his best games for some time. Thundering tackles and hefty runs
Choccy: combined with fingers to close out the opposite centre partnership
Aidan: forget the little booboo, his opposite man was heard to admit he had the beating of him
Chib: defensively sound and pace to spare
Wrighty: continues to develop as our Leigh Halfpenny kicking option, they respect and fear him every time
Ben A: superb scrimmaging and some serious tackling
Ben S: great return to the club after layoff, tackling and spoiling
Simon E: Impressive development from someone with such relative inexperience

Well done lads…stick with it, trust me!