Harlow Colts 2023/24 - Eton Manor

Sunday 9th January 2022 –Harlow u16s 52 Eton Manor 10 League

This fixture is the first fixture of the new year and we are straight back into league action intending to defend our unbeaten league status. 

It was touch and go with this fixture going ahead as we watched the rain pour down on Saturday and monitored the COVID situation, however our modern pitches at Latton Park were up to the task and fortunately even with a few people dropping out from Eton Manor on Sunday morning they still travelled albeit with a bare 15. 

With Joseph Pankhurst our injured this week, Henry Stovell stepped in at fly half with Ben Ferrier moving into the centre.

With most of our front row players now fit again it gave us the opportunity to replace our props Gabe Greaves and Atakan Alagoz with Joseph Williams and Felix Waugh mid way though the first half and then reverse the changes at half time and again in the second half keeping our forwards play strong. 

Harlow started strongly from a dominant scrum Henry Stovell kicked wide which was claimed by Kai Young who broke through and offloaded in the tackle to Ben Ferrier to crash over.  5-5

From the kick-off Harlow were caught napping and let the ball bounce, the Eton Manor playing collected it and sprinted to the line. 5-5. 

After some persistent pressure Harlow were awarded a penalty in the opposition 22. Taken quickly by Jack Rushworth passed to Henry Stovell with Jamie Oliver running a tight hard line on his shoulder to barge through and touch down. Tobie Westbrook added the conversion. 12-5.

Another Harlow dominated scrum allowed the backs to put the ball through the hands nicely drawing and passing the ball out to Montelle Levy who stepped inside to score. His first of 5! Yes 5 today. Tobie Westbrook added the conversion. 19-5. 

From a powerful scrum, Harlow worked the ball well to put Kai Young through as he popped up on the opposite wing. His first try of his hattrick! 24-5. 

From the kick-off it was Harlow’s turn to drive hard. Matt Macfarlane caught the ball and took off at pace into the opposition 22. He off-loaded unselfishly to Kai Young who found the whitewash. Tobie Westbrook converted 31-5. 

From the kick-off Montelle Levy showed how lethal he can be as he picked up a loose ball stepped inside and broke through. Tobie Westbrook converted. 38-5. 

Eton Manor were no push over and with 14 men they kept on working. From a line out they put the ball through the hands to claim a try of their own out wide just before half time. 38-10

Half time 38 – 10.

The half time team talk reflected our need to react to the way the referee was directing us at the break down and that we needed to adjust our style. 

Owen Eynon came into the centre, Ben Ferrier moved to the back row Matt Macfarlane moved to second row replacing Brandon Jackson. 

The second half began, with Harlow under some pressure near their line. Good line speed in defence allowed Montelle to tackle, steal the ball and set off down the pitch at pace. You know what is coming next when Montelle has the ball in space, touch down, converted by Tobie Westbrook. 45-10. 

Breaking down the blind side with some delicate hands from Jack Rushworth, Jamie Oliver taking contact and offloading to Kai Young who broke away as the line beckoned he had good support from Ben Ferrier who touched down near the sticks. 52 – 10. 

The final score for the league game was recorded as 53- 10. (Because I can’t count 😊 )

After the call was made to stop the league game Eton Manor and Harlow coaches agreed to carry on playing. Brandon Jackson and Gabe Greaves showing great sportsmanship and agreeing to play the rest of the game time for Eton Manor and allowing rugby to continue. 

In this period Harlow instantly conceded, from a penalty Eton Manor scored out wide. 0-5. 

Harlow returned to form with a great break and support from both forwards and backs. Henry Stovell was close to the line with Owen Eynon on his shoulder he stepped inside the last defender and touch down. Tobie Westbrook converted. 7-5. 

Quickly followed by tries from Montelle Levy (2) and KaiYoung apologies there wasn’t room on my paper to record the details of each try. 22-5.

The game concluded with Eton Manor scoring the last try of the game from a tap penalty. 

Final Score 52 – 10 and 22 –10.

Eleven Harlow tries scored today with seven being converted which Eton Manor added four tries too! Some Great rugby played and entertaining a good crowd at Latton Park. 

Next up we are away at Westcliff in the waterfall cup on Sunday 16th January. This week’s training will focus on kick off chase and receipt, latching on driving through the player in contact as we prepare for our next tough game. 

Thank you to Montelle Levy for washing the shirts this weekand Owen and Tolu for helping set up the pitch before the game. 

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Tries: Ben Ferrier (2), Jamie Oliver, Montelle Levy (5), Kai Young (3), Owen Eynon,  

 Conversions: Tobie Westbrook (7) 

 Penalties: None 

Referee: Francis Brown, Harlow Club Referee

Team 1. Gabe Greaves, 2. Danny Billington, 3. Atakan Alagoz, 4. Brandon Jackson, 5. Ed Lea, 6. Matt MacFarlane, 7.Alfie Dutnall, 8. Tolu Ajibabi, 9. Jack Rushworth, 10. Henry Stovell, 11. Montelle Levy, 12. Ben Ferrier, 13. Jamie Oliver, 14. Kai Young, 15. Tobie Westbrook, 16. Joseph Williams, 17. Felix Waugh. 18. Owen Eynon