The U17s matchday squad are taken from the U16s and the younger Colts players so their only game time together is in this Leicestershire County U17s Cup competition. It's a great opportunity to see what next season's Colts will look like and for the lads to get to know each other.
Having won their previous cup games comfortably, this team knew that there would be nothing comfortable about a trip to Leicester Forest on a cold, wet March evening with a game under the lights on the artificial pitch awaiting. They expected a tough game and weren't disappointed.
However they got off to a blistering start. George Williams kicked off to start the game and his high hanging ball was caught by the charging Harley Williams who made inroads into the Forest defence. The ball was recycled and found its way back to George Williams who scored in the corner for an early 0:5 lead.
Soon the lead was extended. Continued Harborough pressure saw Forest infringe near their 5m line. A quick tap penalty later and Harley Williams crashed over to score the second try, converted by George for 0:12.
This however wasn't going to be an easy scoring game. It was a tight tough encounter with the conditions causing some handling errors and both sides advanced towards each other's lines but without any further score in the first half.
The half time replacements came on. Forest made progress into the Harborough half and after sustained pressure crashed over to score for a converted try to reduce the deficit to within a single score, 7:12. By now the rain had properly set in and conditions were tricky.
After that however, Harborough began to shade the game and make fewer handling errors. The ball was kicked to touch deep into Forest territory out right and from the ensuing lineout, Ned Corry crashed over to extend Harborough's lead again. A difficult conversion from Williams followed, 7:19.
More Harborough pressure followed and Harley Williams finished off a fine bit of forwards pressure to increase the gap and calm the nerves. 7:26.
A nasty injury to Billy Ward caused a pause to the game.
Final score of the night went to Ned Corry to secure a 7:33 win and a place in the final again.
This was a tough encounter against a good Forest team. The injury to Billy however took the gloss off the night's success. We all wish him well for a full recovery.