Harborough 3rds visited Oadby Wyggs in a real promotion tussle as Wyggs stood a place above Harborough having played a game more. On a flat dry pitch with bright but blustery conditions, Harborough started in the worst way possible, losing Aaron Lyle to a broken arm in the first minutes and having to use their only sub with virtually the whole game ahead. The boys in black defended stoutly under pressure for the first quarter, and getting into the game scored first through ball in hand through the backs allowing Dave Shepherd to run in. Wyggs roared back were only thwarted by poor decision making and brilliant defence from winger Marcus Webster, but after a great deal of pressure, Harborough switched off at a 7m penalty and allowed a Wyggs forward to run through virtually unopposed. The balance shifted again as Wyggs started to get on the wrong side of the referee, with the usual suspects; No 9 Charlie Beard and captain James Wayman taking every opportunity of wind up the opposition. After a couple of quick penalties, Wyggs were marched back 10m after some back chat and Jake Thornton didn’t miss the chance of taking 3 points. Half Time 5-8 Despite a rousing half time team talk, the opening play, like in the first half, had the worst possible result…the kick off was allowed to bounce and was collected by a Wyggs player, missed tackles and a lack of discipline allowed a quick-fire score 10-8. Despite that Harborough had flashes of brilliance, with Colts Ben Marshall and Dan Hands making great debuts in the back row. Marshall chased a Beard box kick to establish field position and after some dominant phases, Shepherd ran in for a 2nd under the posts. Thornton adding to make it 10-15. With 25 minutes to go the game was up for grabs but Wyggs had a seemingly endless stream of replacements and the hitherto strong black pack was starting to go backwards in the scrum. Wyggs countered once more to score and convert making it 17-15. Harborough score the try o f the game after strong interplay between centre Charlie Standley, Webster and Marshall, moving the ball from hallway to 5m out with strong runs and short passes; just as the move looked to be running out of steam Wayman burst through to score. 17-20. The ding-dong battle continued as Wyggs scored again with only 10 minutes remaining and Harborough out on their feet, at 22-20 it looked like the end but Beard took the attack up the centre and Standley took on the offload to score under the posts and Thornton taking the conversion 22-27. Still 5 minutes remained but the front row looking like extras from Shaun of the Dead, the scrums became passive affairs and Harborough were able to see out the remainder of the game.
It was a tense game won through guts and determination, against a bigger squad and frankly against the odds. Providing we can bolster the match day squads, few teams in this division will beat us. Hope Aaron recovers well, and big thanks to Ben and Dan showing the strength in depth of our Colts too. Stuart Beard