MHRUFC U15s Vs Oakham RFC

Following the previous weeks County game it was decided to give game time to the players who had not seen action. Oakham are always formidable opponents so with some players taking a rest it was time for the Harborough squad to step up.
At the request of Oakham, who felt they were fielding an understrength squad, all scrums were to be uncontested and Harborough took the opportunity to try players out in new positions to see how they handled themselves. A certain air of nervousness among the Harborough players could be detected and it took some time for the squad to settle down. Oakham by comparison seemed very comfortable and played well with both Forwards and Backs probing and looking for weakness. A lucky break gave Oakham the opening try and conversion which didn't help Harborough's slight lack of composure. Despite the early setback Harborough battled back, somehow lacking the usual swift ball handling they tried to match Oakham in a head to head game of attrition. Both teams held ground and the pace of the game started to accelerate. Dilon Hamlyn grabbed an opportunity and flew through a gap to grab a try but with an unsuccessful conversion Oakham still held the lead. The teams went at it again, Harborough taking the initiative and putting Oakham on the back foot and as they struggle to contain Harborough gave away a penalty. Close enough in to go for the try rather than kick Dan Hands ran the ball through to score and Be Marshall converted to put Harborough ahead. Things evened out again as each team tried to find space, Oakham did and countered with a second try but no conversion. From the restart Harborough hit back, defending well and then working the ball through the backs they brought Harry McCarthy's speed in to play as outpaced his opposite number and scored right on the far right, but not too far for Ben Marshall too convert. Oakham replied in kind, a gap providing the opportunity to steal five points back. Just ahead of half time Marshall made a swift break to grab another five points for Harborough.

Half Time
Market Harborough 24 Oakham 19

A few changes at half time for Harborough to allow a few other players in on the action and give a break to a few players who had played their socks off in what had been a very high octane thirty minutes. As players again adjusted to some new positions Oakham were able to dominate for a while taking advantage of some handling errors. Harborough held their ground but lacked a little of the drive that had seen them take the lead in the first half. Oakham on the other hand looked ever more dangerous and pressed and probed until they saw an opening to claim seven points and take back the lead. Harborough were working hard, but it seemed whatever they did they just couldn't quite tie things together. As time started to run away and Oakham still holding their lead a few further changes were made, Hooker Sammy Stamps retired having put in a good shift. The seconds ticked away and Oakham, although pressed on their try line, defended well they and held Harborough at bay, who meanwhile despite seemingly doing everything right, couldn't find a way through. In the last few minutes Geordan Bedford, who had been playing in an unfamiliar ten position swapped with equally out of place Dan Hands who had taken over from Stamps as Hooker, and somehow things clicked again. A scrum close in on the Oakham line was won, Cory Ridell whipped the ball out to Hands who drew the defender and passed at just the right moment out right through Joe Harrison and finally to Seth Vials who ploughed through for five points and Bedford added a further two. Having fought so hard Oakham now faltered, and Harborough ran an almost repeat of the previous move with Vials again taking five and Bedford kicking clean for another two.
It had been a tough game, Oakham had been a tough opposition, so it was no mean feat for Harborough to take a win. An exciting although at times both nerve wracking and frustrating for both teams.

Final Score MHRUFC 38 Oakham 26