Thank you to www.hrfc.com for providing this report in fullThe rollercoaster season at HRFC continued for another week. A strong team performance 2 weeks ago saw us overcome Grasshoppers in convincing fashion, partly making amends for an abysmal loss away to UCS Old Boys the previous week. This week the Men in Black made the short trip to Hemel and, despite having some influential players missing, things began well.
Playing down the slope and with the elements behind them, Harpenden made the advantage tell by scoring an early try when Matt Peck crashed over to settle things down. The tempo was maintained as the forwards continued to make good yards and the backs kept things tight and simple. Perhaps predictably given the conditions, the majority of rugby was played in the Hemel half and eventually the pressure told as Rob Healey – in his first game back for 4 months – dived over from close range to extend the lead. Haddock added the extras.
Hemel came fighting back and used their big runners well to come close on a couple of occasions, however they failed to trouble the scoreboard. A further penalty from Haddock and a fine backs try finished by Kearns saw Harpenden take a 20-0 lead into the half.
The old adage ‘a game of two halves’ could not have been a more suitable description of what happened next. Almost from the kick off things began to go wrong for Harpenden, as Hemel slowly took control of the game. Whilst in the loose things were still relatively even, the set piece began to be dominated by the home side as they disrupted both the visitors’ scrums and line outs. This unrelenting pressure from the Hemel forwards eventually saw them crash over for a well deserved try and this was shortly followed by a couple more in similar fashion.
By this stage the wheels had all but come off the Harpenden wagon, however with a slender lead some senior players attempted to calm the nerves and restore some structure and composure. Unfortunately the advice was not heeded as hotheadedness resulted in 2 yellow cards and Harpenden being reduced to 13 for a period. The injuries to back rows Hoare and Graham exacerbated things and Hemel, to their credit, took full advantage of the collapse as they ran in 2 more tries to seal the victory. Final score 20-29.
Harpenden have maintained their 2nd place in the league and their play off hopes, however some might question how they are so high up the league with a 40 minute performance such as this. With 3rd placed Chiswick the next opponents, some focus and regrouping is needed if they hope to come away with the points.
Whilst Harpenden were the architects of their downfall on Saturday, recognition must go to Hemel for the way the came back from behind to take the victory. Unfortunately for them, the post match celebrations which seemed to go on well into Sunday have cast a dark cloud over the result.
Squad: Peck, Murphy, Ledwidge, Dumbleton, Green, Mcghee, Graham, Hoare, Healey, Tennant, Francis, Cooper, Kearns, Payne, Haddock. Lacey, Chichester-Miles, Thompson
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