Harborough 2nds match Shepshed's power and their creativity secures victory

Harborough 2nds faced Shepshed at Northampton Roads on Saturday and with skipper Joel Nance’s call to arms being answered they were able to welcome returning faces. Aaron Lyle, as usua,l was first to answer the call followed by Lawrence Tandy, home for the weekend and a welcome return for Marcus John-Charles. With numbers still low on the morning of the game up stepped Jamie Allsopp and Harry Durham with Harborough hopeful of reversing the defeat they suffered at Shepshed a couple of weeks before. It was Shepshed who started the stronger using their big players to try to break the Harborough line but the Harborough defence was strong and they repelled the onslaught and in Lyle, John-Charles and Jake Ablett they had their own battering rams with Matthew Rogers showing that there is still life in the old dog. Despite their size the Harborough pack, well organised by Ed Bale were winning the tight ball although Shepshed were shading the line outs despite Fred Highton enjoying being raised on high at the front of the line. After weathering the storm it was Harborough who struck first as they seized on any loose ball driving upfield and when the ball got into the hands of Lyle there was no stopping him from inside the 22 and he crashed over to put Harborough 5-0 in front. They quickly doubled their score from another attack when a pass that went to ground was collected by Michael Lowe who raced in from 25 metres to touch down wide out. Harborough now had belief although as the half drew to a close they knew that they had had the benefit of the strong wind. Shepshed were confident starting the second half and with a large squad were able to bring on numerous replacements with fresh legs and territorial pressure eventually told as they crossed the line with a try that with the conversion reduced their arrears to 10-7. The wind then created problems for Harborough as the kick off was blown back into the 10 metre line and Harborough immediately found themselves under pressure and it was not long before they added a further converted try to put them 14-7 in the lead. Their tails were now up but Harborough were not going to panic and with Charles Page Morris kicking well at 10 they knew they had more creativity in the back line as well as a solid defence. As the half wore on the Harborough defence was frustrating Shepshed and they started to make inroads into the visitors 22. After numerous thrusts through the forwards it was left to Bale to sell an outrageous dummy and run in close to the posts and with Durham converting Harborough were back in the lead 17-14. This was a lead they were not going to surrender as the collective force of the team was too strong for the visitors. With tough games against their close rivals over the next few weeks Harborough are still chasing the league title and with the returning players, not least John-Charles, who put in a man of the match performance they are aiming for success.