Harborough completed their excellent season with a resounding victory in the final of the Leicestershire Bowl. With the last league results in their favour, Harborough finished a very creditable third place in the league and with this cup victory an extra gloss was added to what has been an extraordinarily successful season.

Playing in to the face of a gusting wind Harborough produced a first half of exceptional rugby. Within ten minutes a massive hit by Jack Johnston resulted in a penalty being awarded to Harborough. In tricky conditions Ed Bale kicked the goal to give Harborough the lead which was soon added to when a surging run by Tansley Naylor set up the perfect attacking position. Once again Forest halted the Harborough drive illegally, to give Bale his second successful kick at goal for a 6-0 lead.

Harborough were then required to defend as Forest pressed forward, but the strength of Harborough is not merely their ability to run forwards with the ball, but also to tackle like demons when required to do so. Having resisted the Forest attack Harborough then added to their score. A sweeping move left then right set up the perfect attacking position and from a resulting ruck the tireless James Grant powered over for the try. Will Taylor added the extra points to put Harborough in complete control with a 13 – 0 lead.

Forest reduced the arrears with a penalty before Harborough scored again with try of sumptuous quality. From a defensive line-out Johnston smashed through a number of tackles as he carried the ball in midfield. When halted he slipped the ball to Luke Riordan who carried the ball before unloading to Michael Goode with some fifty metres to travel. Such has been Goode’s outstanding contribution to the team, there was little surprise that he managed to complete the move by running round, inside and over the covering defence for a stunning try.

Although Harborough were battling the wind they continued to dominate the first half and after more good interplay between forwards and backs Dan Bailey nipped through the Forest defence from short range for a well taken try. With a 23 – 3 advantage at half time and with the wind in their favour for the second half Harborough were very much in charge of the game.

The opening exchanges of the second half were dominated by Harborough as they gave a masterclass to their opponents in the art of support play and offloading at pace. Although Forest stuck to their task they struggled to contain the charging runs of the outstanding Johnston and Goode and Ed Sumpter and it was the last named who capped another fine individual performance with yet another stunning try. From a line-out the ball was moved into midfield and, with a perfectly timed pass, Rory Jeacock released Sumpter to charge into the Forest defence. Although some 30 metres from the try line Sumpter was not to be halted as he smashed through some less than enthusiastic tackling to claim the last score of the game.

With over a quarter of the game remaining Forest began to enjoy both territory and possession but were unable to make either count in their favour. Towards the end of the game things became a little fractious and in fairly quick succession the referee saw fit to award three yellow cards against Harborough. The impressive Shaun Morris was the first to receive a ten minute break and before he had chance to return to action, Naylor also incurred the wrath of the referee. Then followed a team brawl which led to the innocent Goode and his opposite number being sidelined before, in the final seconds of the game, a Forest player was red carded for his interpretation of Audley Harrison, that is, throwing punches but not landing anything of note on the prone Dan Bailey.

So, a really good season closes and, as it does so, Harborough can look back with quiet satisfaction. That said as they look forward to next season they will have to accommodate the retirement of stalwarts Matt Sneath and Dan Bailey and the departure of skipper Michael Goode to pastures new. All three will leave big boots to fill.

SCORERS:
Market Harborough 28: Tries – Grant, Goode, Bailey, Sumpter; Con - Taylor; Pens: Bale 2.
Leicester Forest 3: Pen – Dacey.