MH performance ensure two squads make the cup finals

Market Harborough 2 (MH2) played tough series of games at Melton Mowbray on a bitterly cold Sunday morning to progress to the final of the county cup.

With a strong squad and an embarrasssment of riches at scrum and fly half, centre and on the Wing, it was testament to the great team work that with 5 changes after each half of rugby, that the Harborough squad played for each other and progressed through.

1st Game MH2 v Hinckley
MH2 kicked off and progressed through a strongly contested first half. At the start of the second half the forward line of Harry Fordham, Tom England and Matthew Liddle started to showed real dominance of the scrum and line-out and this platform the team camp in the oppositions half and dominated the rucks and mauls. The first try came from Stan Cockerill after a series of rucks. The second try came as the forwards won the ball at the scrum, agains the head, Gian Mann at scum half quickly passing the ball to Patrick Bairstow weaved through the Hinckley defence before being tackled close to the try line, Stanley Cockerill securing the ball from the ruck and passing to Caspar Bird who forced his way over to score the try.
Final Score 2-0 (HT 0-0)

2nd Game MH2 v Market Bosworth
MH2 started the way they finished the first game and dominate the rucks and mauls. From the first ruck Ewan Jones passed the ball to Tom England, who drove through a valiant Market Bosworth defence before sliding the ball to Daniel Priestly who ran through for the first try. A period of strong forward play was again rewarded as the Market Bosworth team, drawn into the maul, made space which Dominic Alston took advantage of releasing Jacob Dixon who bust through for the second try.

In the second half HM2 were rampant and camped out in the Market Bosworth half. Tom England was denied a try for not releasing the ball on the line but immediately from the restart HM2 turned over ball and Dominic Alston dove over the line to score. The forward dominance continued to created space and Max Marriot-Clarke took advantage releasing Will Noble who sprinted 20 metres to score in the corner. The final try came as Max Vesty was held up on the line and yet again Stanley Cockerill wrestle free of the maul with the ball and slid through to score.
Final score 5-0. (HT 2-0)

3rd Game MH2 v Oadby Wigs
This was a hard fought game punctuated by a number of injuries and replacements on both sides, as these two well matched teams gave no quarter. MH2 again dominated the forward play and had two scores disallowed for infringements. MH2 were though undone by one try in each half from the same Oadby Wigs wing.
Final score 0-2 (HT 0-1)

Despite disappointment in the final game, this outstanding all round team performance has been rewarded with a place in the final of the County Cup.