County Champions 2015

County Cup winners in six of the last seven years, this Harborough squad has enjoyed a huge amount of success. They have adapted their game to accommodate new team members, and to play a different style. But the competition has become ever harder and Hinckley were a very strong side. Their defensive effort disrupted Harborough’s runners and they oozed attacking threat throughout.

The first score went Harborough’s way. A quick tap penalty and Harry Grimmett was charging forwards. Not an easy player to stop, but the Hinckley defence was up to the job. Grimmett was secure on the ball, though, and Matty Stamp whipped it out to Huw Davies. Somehow carving a way through the heavy traffic, Davies used his support runners as decoys and finished under the posts. Will Hallam converted and Harborough were up and running.

Any thoughts of an easy ride were very short lived. After a series of powerful drives by Hinckley, they thought they had scored in the corner. Max Dalby made the try saving tackle and the referee adjudged the grounding a double movement. Brief respite for Harborough.

Harborough’s backs proved their worth as a scoring threat. Jack Woodward used his pace, collecting the ball on his own 22 and tearing down the wing evading tackles and spinning out of the last ditch effort to ground the ball under the posts again. Hallam again converted and Harborough were 14 – 0 ahead.

Hinckley were not rolling over or lying down. They took the game to Harborough through another series of drives by the forwards and finally earned their reward of a try. A successful conversion took the score to 14 – 7.

The remainder of the half was a real arm wrestle. Hard rucking by both sides and some great play. Adam Stamp with a step inside, a break from Ed Duggan on the wing and a huge drive by Will Nijjer. But the Hinckley defence would not crack.

Despite the advantage of the wind and the slope, Harborough could not get on top in the second half. The back row unit was under pressure from their counterparts and the team struggled to put a cohesive game together. Hinckley’s power play had Harborough on the back foot. The penalty count was high as Harborough battled to man the barricades. They consistently managed to relieve the pressure with a massive defensive effort across the team, with Oscar Kay, Ale Scott, Cameron Franklyn and James Melody flying into the tackles.

Building to a nailbiting finish, Hinckley finally broke the defence to score a few minutes from time. With the conversion attempt to bring scores level, it was agonising for Hinckley to see the ball strike the upright. Harborough cleared their lines and somehow held on for the win. A huge collective sigh of relief from the coaching team and supporters. Total commitment from the Harborough boys gave them the win.