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Bowled over by trophy
MORE silverware came the way of Market Harborough RFC under-9s via the Leicestershire County Festival.
They travelled to the county showdown at Coalville fresh from their emphatic win at the Hinckley Festival the week before.
And although they failed to make it through to the final of the main competition, they secured good consolation in the shape of a County Bowl triumph.
Harborough’s first festival opponents were Oadby Wyggs, who had beaten them in the same finals day last year at under-8 level.
Oadby were worthy contenders again and it soon became clear this was going to be a close match.
Harborough’s defence was soon working hard with good tackles being put in by George Hooper, Dominic Alston and Giaan Mann but Wyggs broke through for a try from a penalty situation.
Harborough’s players were in a more determined frame of mind in the second half. Promising runs from Tyler Smith and Henry Joule were repelled initially but eventually Smith zigzagged his way down half the pitch for the equalising try.
The tie ended all square but Oadby progressed to the next round on the basis of the first-try-scored rule – leaving Harborough contesting the secondary Bowl competition.
Harborough opened their Bowl involvement with a comfortable 4-1 victory, despite conceding a try early on to opponents Ashby.
The strength of the Harborough scrums and mauls led by George Hallam and Will Earland soon began to tell and Will Green broke away to score a fine equalising try.
Good tackling and scrummaging from Henry England and Stanley Cockerill paved the way for Billy Stamp-Ellam to run in Harborough’s second try before the break.
The team doubled their tally with excellent individual tries in the second half from Joule and Smith.
In the Bowl final, a solitary try was sufficient to win the trophy for Harborough against Leicester Lions.
Strong forward work in the ruck was evident from Hallam and Will Green, then following a rolling maul Will Salvesen set up Stamp-Ellam for the decisive score.
In the second period Dominic Alston produced a crunching tackle to prevent one of several Lions runs that resulted from penalties. Zac Green, Smith, Giann Mann and Earland were also involved in important defensive work.
Harborough survived a nailbiting final few minutes to prevent their line being crossed and take the County Bowl honours.
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Weather for Market Harborough
Tuesday 18 June 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 14 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
