Harborne snatch last second victory to top table

There was something very typically Harborne-esque about Saturday’s trip to Bishop’s Castle. A somewhat delayed departure having discovered that the first team kit from the previous week had been festering in the cricket club for the subsequent week, was followed by a loooong drive into the Shropshire wilds. In fact, its that far away that we were almost into the realms of needing the absent Rhys; not for is scrimmaging but for translation purposes.

Harborne arrived with barely 45 minutes to change, make the half mile walk up the road to the pitch and attempt to get warmed up on what was a very clear fresh and chilly day in the Shropshire countryside. Meanwhile, the club president was seen wandering in the opposite direction off up the high street, much to the concern of some of the new and younger members who clearly thought the absence of the beared codger’s carer would result in the need to send a search party after him. They needn’t have looked further than the town’s fine ale houses however.

With Bishop’s first pitch having been relayed, the match was to take place on their much famed second pitch. Short, narrow and well suited to a team who are traditionally strongest in the pack. It was a genuine surprise therefore to come up against what was the youngest, and slightest built BC pack that this correspondent can remember. In fact, their entire squad had a younger more athletic look to it than most would expect from BC. Harborne on the other hand had a squad with many enforced changes from recent weeks through absence and injury.

Harborne kicked off and immediately piled on the pressure, camping in the BC half. The first scrum awarded to BC, our new look tight five getting the slight squeeze as the ever dependable Phil Monaghan started off a great afternoon with a clean hook against the head, one of many in the match. The first ten minutes were all Harborne, playing hard and fast but limited by the size of the pitch, which meant BC were able to just manage to catch the winger as we looked to play out wide. After a sustained period of pressure, a penalty eight metres from the line saw our pack tap and go, poor upright body position into the contact slowed the ball and the second drive for the line was again held up as the drive was too upright, allowing BC to hold up and drive the ball out for a 22 to relieve the pressure as the kick went long and deep, bouncing into touch near our 22. Harborne, over keen to play and return the ball fired in a quick lineout which failed to go to hand, causing pressure at the ensuing ruck leading to BC being awarded a penalty which their scrum half kicked with ease and demonstrating he would be dangerous from anywhere in our small half of the park. Harborne 3-0 down against the run of play.

Straight from the kick off, BC cleared the ball down into our own half where we again attempted to run the ball from deep. With BC chasing hard, they were able to put the pressure on again and indiscipline at the breakdown for going to ground drew their second chance at posts and their lead was further extended. With almost no possession and only two ventures into our half, BC found themselves 6-0 in the lead.

With advice from the sidelines to test the BC fullback and play our rugby in their half, Harborne increased the pressure on the home side. This started to tell, as a series of scrums were awarded in the middle of the field. Our pack showed solidity to win some quick ball to the base and start to allow our backs to run. The combination of the Arnold brothers at first and second receiver allowing fast ball to be delivered near the gainline to Ben Wright who consistently carried ball through and beyond the first tackle. The restrictive width of the park was our only enemy as it enabled them to barely drift to stop the wide runners. Nevertheless our speed of handling and direct running consistently told on the home defence. Meanwhile the forwards were having a field day in the scrums and securing decent ball from the lineout, Phil Monaghan proving that despite his protests to the contrary, he can actually throw at the lineout and hit our jumpers! As the tempo of our attacks increased we made more and more half chances down both wings.

Finally Harborne’s pressure paid off as a full team effort started from forty yards out with a superb clean fast lineout ball delivered to the backs, a set-piece wrap between the Arnold Bros setting the Wright brothers loose to link and setup the first try of the match and reduce the deficit to 6-5. BC’s response was to send a series of deep kicks into our half to attempt to repeat the pressure of their first scores. Time and again Harborne answered by returning the ball with hard direct running and were able to consistently break the first tackle and offer up the offload, pressurising the home backline into desperation defence. Meanwhile our tight five were simply enjoying every chance to scrum. Tom Phil and Roger in the front row with Roberto and debutante Tony in the engine room were constantly driving the home pack off the ball, disrupting the put in and giving Hodgy clean ball to service what was a great link with Tom Arnold all afternoon. Meanwhile Ciaran was having a typical day on the open side, carrying and linking with the backs and spoiling any chance the opposition had of clean ball. Millsy driving from the base of the scrum to set our backs onto the front foot as his link with Hodgy continues to develop.

Shortly before the end of the first half, BC cleared deep into Harborne’s 22 and despite previous advice to the contrary, our back three of Joe, Wrighty and Emir decided to throw it about. With both the home full back and wing bearing down on him, Emir stepped, the first player and started off down the wing, sidestepping the incoming tackle and opening up to clear out of our 22, over half way and through the covering wing’s tackle to make it over the line and take us into a 10-6 lead finally. This was soon followed up with a penalty in front of the posts after further pressure from our forwards at the scrum, finally allowing Wrighty to slot the ball between the posts and over the crossbar as opposed to his previous attempts to take a 13-6 lead into the break.

A lot of discussion about tactics and needs during the break could very simply have been summed up by the instruction to play smart rugby in the opposition half, and keep on with the efforts from the forwards to win clean ball for the backs to keep running.

The second half started with Harborne taking the initiative and making heavy inroads into the opposition with ball in hand. Always making ground through the contact and releasing the pass beyond the tackle line. However the white touchline seemed forever present as the extra defender. Another period of sustained pressure on the home try line was relieved with a kick to half way. An ensuing scrum just inside our own half saw the backs look to run from just outside our own 22. A fumble, a fly hack through and a charge down saw the first score of the half go to BC, yet again, against the run of play and through a simple set of errors by our own side, putting extra pressure on ourselves.

Undeterred we pressed again and with a set of scrums taking the opposition apart we gave our backs plenty of chance to pound the home side’s lines. Swift hands from Tom and Will, combined very well with the power of Ben who relished the gaps that he could see from the wider out 13. The link up finally came as Joe broke down the right, cutting back in to take out three covering defenders before offloading to Tommy who slipped the ball free to his brother as the fullback hauled him down, providing the rewards for fast hands and continued pressure. 18-13 and Harborne were the team in the ascendency. Soon after Joe missed the opportunity to finally become the bride rather than bridesmaid as he chose to cut inside rather than go outside with the line beckoning.

The final third saw Goughy subbed for Maka, a shoulder niggle after a series of heavy runs and some superb defence, whilst Joe made way for Jack Sears and Phil joined Austin on the sideline as Darren joined the fray.

Meanwhile, BC rallied their efforts. Still in touch despite having been outplayed in nearly all aspects of the game they sensed a victory and were willed on by the home team, demonstrating just why it is such a difficult venue to travel to. Territory and possession were heavily loaded against them yet still they managed to close the gap further as Willo was penalised for yet again lying all over the ball, and was lucky not to receive a yellow card for the many obvious episodes. In fact the ref’s fairest decision of the day was to allow the BC forwards to demonstrate their displeasure at his actions by wiping their boots all over him…sorry Tom, you deserved every bit of that rucking! Nevertheless, the home scrum half’s final act of the game was to add the three points before retiring with a leg injury, 18-16 to us and the final quarter still to play.

The introduction of the Club Captain gave fresh legs to again attack the opposition defensive line, and within minutes a number of heavy charges had carried us deep into their half again. The new additions to the pack re-energising our players and as Robbie and Tony sank lower on their props the tight five again continued to enjoy their day in the scrum. With barely five minutes to go, Tony was rewarded for his efforts with a rest. A guy who had given every bit of his strength to the cause of the pack exhausted; so Goughy returned and Millsy moved a row forward. The pressure on the home side continued to build with us camped on their line till they were adjudged to have again illegally stopped the drive at the scrum five metres out and Wrighty was given the chance to extend the lead to 5 with the penalty in front of the posts. 21-16 and only a few minutes left.

Then BC kick off landed in the arms of Maka on our 22, another drive and offload to Roberto was spilled, BC sensed a chance, and their supporters were baying for more. Their pack rallied and secured the ball, they then drove with every last bit of will and resolve. Our defence withstood the initial barrages but as the penalties mounted they pressed again and again, seeking the try that would bring them level. After a series of drives were repelled, they finally organised and forced their way over for the decisive try. Two minutes on the clock and they were determined to use all of the allotted time to allow their substituted scrum half to come and set the ball up for their fly half to kick…and through the posts it went. 21-23 to the home side and barely a minute on the clock. The home supporters were ecstatic, their players convinced that the game was won… simply collect the restart and stick it long into touch!?

The kick went up and towards their 22, landing between lock and 8, ciarran flying up and getting in the way of any chance to collect the ball cleanly, it rolled around yet their retiring front row was first to fall on it, pushing it back our pack flew forward and disrupted the ensuing ruck. The scrum half pulled the ball back as Maka flew through, charging the clearance kick down… ball bouncing forward into the home 22, our pack with their tails up ran straight through the ruck and into the final third as the ball was gathered the Harborne momentum was simply unstoppable, and the ball was carried over by Goughy for the winning try. 26-23 to us, time only for wrighty to twist the knife and make it 28-23, a bonus point for four tries, the win sealed and the home side silent.

Harborne must be congratulated in the manner of their win. The silence with which the whistle was greeted and a simple shake of hands amongst the team demonstrating a considerable humility in victory. Both sides had played fair, tough and honest rugby. That BC had nearly stolen the win was testament to their own desire and resolve as much as tactical errors on our part. We were far from perfect but to travel to BC, to win and to seal the bonus point is something that few teams manage so all must be congratulated. Whilst the tactical aspects of our game were our main enemy, there is much to be positive about.

First the performance of the tight five. This was far from a typical forward’s match and yet there was plenty for them to enjoy and get their teeth into. The tight five’s performance was instrumental in allowing our backs to play in the manner that they did. Tony on debut powering himself to a standstill, Tom and Roger causing their opposition props trouble all day. Phil again showing that the second team are lucky to have a player of his ability captaining them, his workrate around the park exceptional, his hooking top class and even managing the lineout work too. Roberto, Goughy and Millsy giving plenty of go forward with ball in hand, Ciarran simply a nuisance to everyone on the open side. Hodgy and Tom Arnold worked and linked well together. The combination of playmakers at 10 and 12 definitely causing the home defence trouble all afternoon as they struggled to decide which of the impact runs from either of the Wright brothers, Emir or Joe they had to pick up. Plaudits go to our Club Captain, as influential super-subs go his efforts were clear to see and his determination and subsequent charge down define the old saying of leading from the front.

The linking of the backs and the continuity play when the line was broken was a defining feature and drew complements from the home spectators. What BC demonstrated was that it is possible to stay in a game through simple tactical awareness. Tactically they were in fact more shrewd and this is something that we must consider. Nevertheless our team won and take top spot in the league after an away win at one the League’s graveyard grounds where all away teams struggle.

Above all positives must be the strength in depth of every position. No single position is a certainty and we are now in a position to look at fielding teams for all occasions and oppositions. If players are absent from matches or training for any reason whatsoever, the pressure on places is such that others are ready to take up the spots and this continues throughout the entire club. This is a happy position for the Club to be in, winning at all levels with large numbers! Its knock-on effect is to mean that the individuals within it must give no opportunity for anyone to take their place, put simply that means train more, train harder and be more available. Well done to the Seconds too, an away win at Wyvern meaning both teams are top of their respective Leagues! Happy days for Harborne.