Harborough seconds show strength and speed to secure another win

Harborough seconds returned to winning ways at home to Cosby on Saturday with a complete team performance. Led by George Lee the forwards were dominant against bigger opponents from the start notably in the tight scrums. This ensured quick ball and it was not long before they scored their first try through Harvey Clarke, once again showing his lightening pace and eye for a gap. The Harborough front 5 were truly working hard and giving Cosby an uncomfortable afternoon and with number 7 new boy Tom Simpson making powerful runs supported as always by our own Joe Marler lookalike, Gareth Nicholson further scores were inevitable. Harborough's second try was made by Nick Boxall who collected a ball on his own 22 and carved his way through the advancing Cosby before releasing Charles Page Morris to run in from 20 metres and score under the posts, Boxall converted to make it 12-0 to Harborough. Harborough were struggling a bit in the line out until George Lee took control and regularly secured ball jumping at the front of the line. This enabled Olly Dawson to ensure good ball to the backs and with Page-Morris playing his first game at 10 Harborough always looked dangerous and with Harry Parker at 12 they had pace and strength and with Page-Morris offloading good ball it was not long before he crossed for his first try. He followed this up with a second following another great Harborough Scrum and when Page-Morris was held up 1 metre out he off-loaded to Parker for and easy touch down and with Boxall adding the extras Harborough were 24-0 in the lead. More was to come with another team try that enabled Parker to get his hat-trick touching down wide out to give Harborough a 29-0 lead at half time. The second half became more disjointed with Cosby opening their account with a try early on when the referee missed a clear knock on and Harborough were guilty of not playing to the whistle allowing Cosby to touch down wide out. What this Harborough team possesses is a mixture of youth and experience with young guns Dawson, Clarke and Max Dalby showing that they have a great future ahead with the club with strong running and tackling to the fore. Add to this the guile and dare I say it, wisdom, of George Lee, the poaching skills of Matt Rogers and the enthusiasm of so many others there are the makings of a very good team. It also makes it easier when you can bring on experienced substitutes such as Ben Lawniczak and Ed Bale who showed some sparkling touches when he came on, a glimpse of what he is capable of. Harborough continued to press in the second half and following a move involving more than half the team the ball found Marcus Webster on the wing and he touched down in the corner. The conversion attempt of Bale narrowly missing the upright. Cosby did not however give up and scored near the end to bring the final score to 34-12 and another fine win for Harborough who have lost just the once this season to table-topping Coalville.