MHRUFC U15s Vs Old Silhillians RFC

A miserable wet start meant ball handling could be a problem added to the fact that Old Sils are a class act under any circumstance.
Old Sils got straight to business putting in some heavy work with their forwards. They are fit and Harborough's lightweight pack, who can usually outpace many an opposition, certainly met their match. Quick ball at the breakdown though brought the Harborough backs into action early and they were pressing Old Sils out wide and stretching their defencive line. After about ten minutes Harborough finally found a gap, quick ball through the hands put Sam Dexter in prime position and he sliced through to score, an awkward angle denied Will Dawson the extra two points however. Old Sils responded well, it was their pack that was making gains, busying themselves around the ruck they drove hard again and agin until only minutes later they scored and went ahead with a tidy conversion. Harborough responded in equal measure, realising that giving time and space to the Old Sils pack was a risky business, they again brought the backs into play. Geordan Bedford whipped the ball away quick from a ruck and through the hands at pace to Centre Ben Marshall who broke through for a try this time converted by Dawson. Harborough had found their game now and moving the ball quickly left Old Sils chasing hard from left to right. Thomas Dyson and Theo Barre kept things moving up front and a penalty kick put the ball deep into Old Sils turf, the resulting line out gave Harborough the chance to move wide this time across to the left where winger Harry McCarthy accelerated through to score despite nearly being denied by a high tackle. A kick from hard left was too much for Dawson this time. At the half time whistle Harborough were looking confident and relaxed, and probably playing some of their finest rugby of the season so far.

At the restart Old Sils pressed hard. They had changed tactics a little and were trying to keep the ball firmly in the hands of their own pack, a tactic which had proved so successful early in the first half. Harborough struggled to contain the onslaught as the ball was repeatedly driven in and secured and driven in again. Harborough's pack fell foul of the referee as they worked to counter. Used to getting up fast from a tackle and back in for a sharp turnover technique and they were judged to be committing fouls. Rightly or wrongly this affected their play and rather than risk a series of penalties they stood off a little allowing Old Sils to drive them back. Fullback Oscar Spiers put in some superb tackles much in the style of his fellow Fullback Jack Rowlatt who had proved an essential part of putting the game in Old Sils face. Captain Oli Hoare had to withdraw with an eye injury and the players had to reshuffle to compensate. With advantage being given against them Harborough struggled to hold ground. Old Sils punished them with two consecutive tries but no conversions. With this style working for them Old Sils kept things tight and pressed again. Prop Thomas Dyson was handed a yellow after repeated warnings to Harborough about positions at the ruck. Now with a man advantage Old Sils had the edge they needed and struck again with ruck and drive all the way from the half way to the try line. There was almost nothing Harborough could do to create a turnover that they so badly needed and repeated advantage left them again on the receiving end of a try, the failure to convert this offered a slim glimmer of hope to the home team as the score reached 22 – 17. With the minutes ticking away to the final whistle. Old Sils drove again from the restart and were within yards of the try line again. The Harborough pack Max Halls, Josh Ford, Josh Guerriero, Thomas Melody along with Matt Robinson and support from Ben Levy and Dan Hands stood fast and somehow secured turnover and broke out at speed from within their twenty two. Centre Tom Wainwright pelted down the left wing but was intercepted before he could reach open field. The resulting line out gave Harborough a last ditch chance to even the game. The ball was caught, delivered and swung out fast and wide to the right, despite being a player light Harborough looked to be everywhere, Old Sils found themselves over committed to their own right and the remaining defenders edged left to contain the Harborough backs. The ball reached winger Seth Vials running at pace, he drove hard at the last man, stepped and turned in to place the ball right under the sticks, handing Wainwright a simple conversion just ahead of the final whistle.
Final score MHRUFC 24 Old Silhillians 22

A fabulous game of rugby from both teams. Both showing great courage and tenacity throughout.