On a warm bright September afternoon, rugby returned to Northampton Road as Market Harborough took on Oadby Wyggs in the first league match of the season. The teams were playing for the Ellis White Memorial Trophy and a large crowd paid their respects to Ellis with a minutes silence before kick off.

The game exploded into action from the first whistle as Oadby pack gained good set piece ball and Oadby's robust centre crossed the whitewash in the corner with the game was barely five minutes old. The conversion from the touchline was also successful. Oadby forwards continued to pile on the pressure, but Harborough began to put together some good phases. One such play saw them strike hard up the middle of the pitch and then spun wide for full back Milkha Basra to score in the corner. Scrum half Joe Lafferty converted from the touchline and the game was tied at 7-7.

Oadby continued to dominate up front and a Harborough indiscretion, handling the ball on the floor led to an Oadby penalty converted from 30 metres out. The first half dominance for Oadby was rewarded with two further tries one of which was converted and the visitors looked like they would establish an unbridgeable lead. This wasn't helped by a yellow card for a dangerous tackle, it didn't seen like the right culprit was penalised, but Jack Brown took one for the team!! Just before half time Harborough had a glorious opportunity to claw back the Oadby lead, but Jack Digby was held up over the line and the new goal line drop out ensued, closely followed by the half time whistle.

HT Harborough 7 Oadby 22

The second half was a much more even affair with Oadby forward play countered by some slick handling from Harborough's backs. Jake Fordham marshalled his back line well and Will Marriot crossed to bring the score to 12 - 22. With the breeze behind them Harborough played some entertaining ruby and a 'length of the field' play resulted in Ed Parker latching on to a kick downfield with his own grubber kick and over he went. The score crept closer to 17-22.

The comeback seemed complete when, after 70 minutes, Tom Wainwright went over to draw the scores level at 22-22. The conversions didn't fall Harborough way but it was a great fightback. In the last ten minutes the visitors rallied and started to reestablish their dominance up front and with seconds remaining went over to seal the game 22-29.

Coaches Joe Hill and Richard Bowden were immensely proud of the team performance and with several injured players still to return, the depth of the senior squad should help Harborough continue to play a really entertaining brand of rugby.