Returning players boost Harborough 2nds as they rack up 50 points

With a strong squad full of players home from University Harborough 2nds played Loughborough seconds at home for their latest League fixture. The early exchanges were even as Loughborough dominated the line out but there were signs that the Harborough back line was full of pace and defensive strength. It did not take long for Harborough to put points on the board and it came through Harris Medwell who not only outpaced the defence but when held on the line had the strength to touch the ball down. Nick Airey converted for a 7-0 lead. Within a few minutes Medwell got his second try following a typical bullocking run from George Thornton who had support from Henry Davis whose offload to Medwell put him in the clear for the try that Airey once again converted. The forward exchanges remained even but every time Loughborough mounted an attack they were cut down by ferocious Harborough tackling. Kev Howley was making a nuisance of himself in the loose and it was he who created the next break before passing to Medwell whose sniping run took him close but he passed to Charley Standley who made further ground before being tackled. James Wayman was however on hand to pick up and recycle the ball which was fed back to Andrew Jarvis who put in an audacious pin point kick to the opposite wing where George Thornton was on hand to collect and run over for the try. From the kick off Harborough lost Ryan Gibson who fell after jumping for the ball and took a bad knock to the head. An ambulance was called and play moved to the adjacent pitch. There followed the try of the match as Harborough attacked from their own half and the ball passed through player after player with excellent offloads until finally reaching Jarvis who was able to touch down near the posts for a try that Airey again converted. Sadly Jarvis injured his knee shortly after and a further re-shuffle was needed. On came substitute James Stubbs and almost with his first touch of the game he combined with Medwell and raced into for the fifth try again converted by Airey bringing the half-time score to 33-0 in Harborough’s favour. The second half continued much as the first although Loughborough’s defence initially held firm and it was their stand-off who touched down for a well-deserved try, 33-5. This appeared to galvanise Harborough who put together some wonderful attacks. First a line out steal saw the ball reach Thornton who ran in for his second from 2 metres (actually it was about 30). Airey again converted to make it 40-5. There was then a piece of magic from Iain Barnett who raced upfield before producing a wonderful reverse pass to Stubbs who made ground before passing back to Barnett who touched down. But Harborough were not yet finished and from a turnover it was Thornton who took the ball on the 10 metre line. He had support from both Stubbs and Barnett but typical of most props he showed that he also had the pace and strength to beat the defence to score his 3rd try and bring the final score to 50-5 to Harborough and a welcome league victory.