MHRUFC U15s Vs South Leicester RFC

Both teams had plenty of players available today, so there would be a number of team changes throughout to allow all players to get some game time.
From the start Harborough put South under pressure, fast rucking and slick passing ate up the ground. South worked hard to keep the visitors at bay, but the pace was too much and the ball moved through the centre to Fullback Jack Rowlatt and barged through for an early try converted by Fly Half Will Dawson. From the restart Hraborough pressed forward again and South found themselves once more being run from side to side. Great teamwork from Harborough drove the ball up hard on the left, neatly taken up by Seth Vials who accelerated toward the try line, a flurry of footwork and passing ended with Dawson running in a second try but right on the edge leaving himself a difficult conversion kick. The kick from the restart neatly taken Harborough maintained the same strength, but this time the pack took point. Fast rucking and hard driving had South struggling to contain play as Hooker Thomas Melody exploded through with the tryline in sight. Tackled a few metres short the fast rucks that followed gave options for number nine Dilon Hamlyn who chose to pass right to Vials who ploughed forward offloaded to an oncoming Rowlatt who landed another try, with no conversion. South rallied now and had Harborough on the back foot, using their muscular pack they busied themselves at the breakdown, but Harborough's defence is strong and frustrated by the lack of momentum South gave away a penalty. Dawson kicked long and deep to the left. for a line out. Taking advantage of the ground gained Harborough worked the ball around to the right and drove hard up the centre with Vials emerging ball in hand at speed to land another try this time converted by Dawson. South were feeling the pinch, but were far from beaten. Mustering their squad they hit back hard. Driving forward with strength they had Harborough right on their own try line and looked almost certain of a score, but somehow Harborough held fast and managed to counter, claim the ball, kick clear and chase hard, Melody again crashing headlong toward South's tryline. He was brought down short though. South won the scrum that followed and also kicked clear. Action now focused in the centre of the pitch as South's pack tried to hold the ball and press forward. Harborough got a little ahed of themselves and were punished with a penalty for offside. South took advantage and kept the pressure up rewarding themselves with a well earned try but no conversion. Harborough had become a little too confident perhaps and allowed South to play the game their way, from the restart they settled back to their previous from and started to move the ball across the pitch at pace. With barely more then two minutes gone since South had scored Connor Jenkinson sprung through to claim another try with conversion from Dawson. Harborough were very much on top now and kept the ball moving leaving South to chase. Just ahead of half time Prop Thomas Dyson took a chance and planted the ball in the far left corner, a little too far left for Dawson to convert though.
Both teams made changes and set to again. Harborough put South under pressure straight away, they moved the ball at pace like before driving ever forward, breaking into the opposition half a gap opened and Vials shot through to claim another try, converted by Bradley Crane. South fought back, grafting away around the ruck they had managed to get well into Harborough's turf, who defended well but there had been few too many penalty offences though and on the receiving end of a yellow card Harborough found themselves down to 14 men. The game settled a little now and for a time things evened up. South battled away and looked dangerous, but Harborough maintained the upper hand. Ollie Hoare played his socks off trying to make up for the missing player. A scrum was set on South's 22 and they put in, their pack drove on and the ball emerged for their scrum half, but he lifted the ball just a little too slowly allowing flanker Dan Hands time to slip his bind and fly out to clip him as he put in his pass, anticipating the error and going on pure instinct Crane came from nowhere and intercepted the pass and sprinted in a try leaving the intended receiver staring at his empty hands. South rallied once more and pressed Harborough pushing them back and back until they were parked almost on the tryline. South relentlessly prodded and poked but somehow a try eluded them, but they were as dogged in the attack as Harborough were in defence and eventually managed to scramble across to score but the kick was off. Harborough restarted with a good kick and chase. Keeping the ball moving they swept from right to left and back again and as the ball came right again it went through almost every players hands ending up with Oscar Spiers who planted the ball in the left hand corner. Harborough had found their form now and slick passing kept them on top as South started to lose their bite. Sam Dexter ran in another try and Rowlatt claimed another both converted by Crane. Harborough had played well, but the final score doesn't do justice to the determined South Leicester players who had worked tirelessly throughout.
MHRUFC 67 South Leicester 10