Market Harborough RFC exceeding expectations, says director of rugby

Market Harborough RFC are exceeding expectations this season, according to director of rugby James Mckay-Mount.

The Black Cats currently sit seventh in the Midlands 1 East table following their promotion last year.

Having recorded nine wins and a draw from 19 matches so far, Mckay-Mount believes solid foundations have been laid.

“If I look at where we are now, over halfway through the season compared to my expectations at the start I can be nothing but pleased,” he said.

“The manner in which we won promotion last season and the continuous improvement of the players and the squad makes me incredibly proud to be involved with this club.

“There has been incredible work to get where we are and while that continues this is a club with a bright future.”

On Saturday Harborough will travel to sixth-place Old Northamptonians, looking to move closer to the side above them in the table and bounce back following the weekend’s 29-19 defeat to Oadby Wyggstonians.

“ONs are one place above Harborough with a game in hand but we have already beaten them this season so we will be confident of getting a result there,” Mckay-Mount added.

“Coach Joe Hill will be looking for a much more powerful defensive display and coherence than this week.”

Harborough welcomed Oadby to Northampton Road with a feeling that they owed them a bit of payback from the previous fixture.

The weather was perfect for a day of running rugby with a firm pitch and bright sunshine.

Hill made a change in the backs, bringing in Stuart ‘The Big Show’ Bale.

Early scrum dominance and some sweet running indicated that these were great calls.

This was especially true when Bale went over for the Black Cats’ first try.

Harborough have built our season on high energy defence with fast line speed.

The idea of this is to apply pressure to opposition attack and force errors.

This week it was clear that the energy in defence was not what it has been in previous games.

The lineout also suffered with some uncustomary errors in the first half leading to Oadby being able to keep them trapped in their own half.

The second half saw Harborough putting together some great attacking moves.

With two scores in five minutes it looked like Harborough were going to claim victory.

However, some decisions which Mckay-Mount described as ‘disappointing’ by the referee turned the momentum of the game against the Black Cats.

In the end Oadby ran out 19-29 winners in a game there for Harborough to win.