Performance of the season puts seconds back on track

Harborough seconds followed up their excellent performance last week, when they won away at Corby, with another gutsy performance to win away against a strong Broadstreet team. Things did not start well with 3 cars stuck in traffic disrupting their warm up and late drop outs resulting in only 3 forwards playing in their normal positions against a very big and experienced opposition. Playing into a fierce wind Harborough were put on the back foot but pouncingon loose ball they broke out of defence and when Ferg Clarke released Sam Patterson there was only one winner as he raced from the half-way line and touched down under the posts for Nick Airey to convert. But with the wind a real factor Broadstreet struck back twice within 10 minutes with unconverted tries to lead 10-7. They continued to press but excellent defence and huge tackles against big forwards, with Lee Butler and Paul Wilson leading from the front, kept them out. It was then Harborough's turn as they used what ball they could get, pouncing on anything loose and from a break up to the 22 they released James Mutton to touch down for an unconverted try. Broadstreet eventually managed to break through the defence and crossed for a third unconverted try to bring the half-time score to 15-12 to the home team. Playing with the wind Harborough started the second half strongly pinning Broadstreet in their own 22 although they were struggling to win good ball from the scrum or line out where Broadstreet were dominent. But territory is important and from scrappy play Harry Hurst was able to pick up loose ball and dive over in the corner and it was Hurst again 10 minutes later when Nick Airey put in a cross kick that at first looked as if it was going into the next field but dropped perfectly for Hurst to touch down and with Jamie Thorpe converting from wide out to put Harborough 24-15 to the good. Not to be outdone, Broadstreet brought on their replacements and their pack continually drove forward, often with brutal efficiency in the loose, to snatch 2 tries, one converted, to reduce the deficit to 2 points. Without a regular number 8 and the scrum going backwards James Stubbs showed skill and strength to secure ball and as the game wore on the Broadstreet pack began to tire. Harborough's fitness then told and were able to run the ball freely. First it was Harvey Slade who spotted pace on the outside to streak down the wing for an unconverted try and in the final 2 minutes it was Jamie Thorpe's turn as he touched down to bring the final score to 34-22 to Harborough. With an ever-changing line out this was another outstanding team performance with young players learning from the experience of Paul Wilson in the forwards with Nick Airey and Danny Yeow excellent in the backs. The whole team did much to make Harborough proud.