FOR their last game before the festive break, Market Harborough under-13s faced Northampton Casuals.
And they guaranteed a happy Christmas holiday after registering a thumping 39-0 victory.
It was a tough and physical game that at times boiled over as the previously unbeaten Casuals disputed a succession of decisions.
Harborough started stron
gly and dominated possession although they found it difficult against a strong wind. They looked to have gone ahead when Alex Haynes on the wing saw his opportunity and raced from inside his own half, only to be called back for a foot in touch.
With the Harborough pack dominant and the powerful running of Jack Dressler, Alex Galletly and Tom Grahamslaw, a score was inevitable and when the ball found Charley Gilbert on the wing he showed a clean pair of heels to score under the posts, the conversion by Jack Gibbs giving the team a 7-0 lead.
Harborough continued to attack and shortly before half-time Haynes made no mistake and scored a superb try to put them 12-0 up at the break.
Harborough rang the changes at the interval ensuring that the whole squad got game time and although they struggled for possession Casuals did not look like scoring.
Full back Spencer Gardiner and hooker Josh Pozerskis were the pick of the substitutions. Midway through the half Harborough brought back their starting line-up and took the game away from Casuals.
Eddie Marshall and Freddie Highton were outstanding as flankers and George Thornton had perhaps his best game yet at number 8.
With the powerful running and solid defence of the midfield pair of Joe Margetts and Joel Nance, as well as excellent contributions from James Stubbs and Jack Batkin, further scores were inevitable.
Further points arrived with two tries from Gilbert, completing his hat-trick, a second for Haynes and a one each for props Dressler and James Queally. With one conversion by Gibbs this left Harborough with a 39-0 victory.
The real pride was, however, in the team spirit and fair play they displayed.
