Muddy Magic

Heavy rain made conditions extremely heavy under foot and the grass soon turned to mud.
Harborough had the first chanced to take the lead but narrowly missed a penalty at goal. Oundle did however take their opportunity at went 3-0 up. This galvanised a young Harborough team who struck back with two quick Jamie Thorpe tries.

Harris Medwell and Andrew Jarvis started some fine interplay in the backs and threatened to run riot, Jarvis turned up the gas and posted two tries. Harborough competed well at the breakdown against a bigger Oundle pack, and from quick recycled ball, the 'ever green' skipper, Charlie Standley sprinted through to score in the corner to extend the lead to 3-25.

Jamie Thorpe completes his hat trick of tries and it looked like Harborough would over run Oundle, but the home team dug deep and their pack began to get their mauling game together. They pushed the visitors back, time and time again before their scrum half nipped in from close range and Oundle converted to make the half time score 10-30 to Harborough.

The second half was a much more even contest with Oundle's pack punching holes in Harborough defence. Ed Prowse, Sam Hiner and Mark Watson competed toe to toe with their opponents and had fine games. Harris Medwell, who was electric all afternoon, broke free and scored from 40 metres and converted his own try 10-37.

The pitch soon turned into a mud bath and it was difficult to distinguish the teams colours, however the game was still played at a tremendous pace. As the conditions worsened Ben Lawnciack broke through and touched the ball down.... had Harborough scored....unfortunately 'The Shack' had placed over the 5 metre line not the try line....happy days.

Harborough rang the changes, with their 4 subs, giving plenty of game time to all and Andrew Jarvis found himself playing at No. 8. He duly picked and drove to complete his hat rick of tries and Jamie Thorpe added the conversion 10-44.

Once again Oundle thundered into the contact area and pushed Harborough back up the pitch and were rewarded with the final try of the afternoon which ended 17-44 to the visitors.