Harbury 6 - Pershore 26
MAR
This was an efficient workmanlike performance, which did not quite hit
the performance level of the previous week, but was easily still too
good for Harbury. A typical dominant forward display set the tone for
the afternoon, with Pershore winning the lions share of possession, and
the backs receiving plenty of ball. Full credit to Harbury though, as
for the whole match they tackled their hearts out, and made life
difficult fpr Pershore, particularly at the breakdown where they
cleverly slowed the ball down at every opportunity. Eventually after
considerable forward pressure, the scoreboard started ticking over.
Pershore put together several phases of play, with the backs and
forwards interchanging, and with the ball nicely set up on Harburys 5
metre line, Martin Hope picked up and crashed over. Dolphin converting.
Matt Syphus and Adrian Hanson caused problems for the home defence every
time they had the ball, and when Syphus made a lovely break it was taken
on by Steve Holmes, and with a lovely sleight of hand , his inside pass
released Damian Hanson who scored under the posts. Dolphin again
converting. 14 to 0 at half time. The second half was a repeat of the
first, control up front, plenty of ball, but a last pass going astray,
or an unlucky bounce going the wrong way. However, Pershore stuck to
their task and with the ever reliable Toby Grace suppplying quality ball
at the line out, a clever move enabled Marcus Whyte to storm down the
blind side , his quick feet and power saw him break a couple of tackles,
his off load in the tackle was timed to perfection by Martin Hope who
stormed over the whitewash to complete his double. The conversion was
missed. The last quarter saw Pershore stretch Harburys defence with play
being spread wide and recycled quickly, and from a ruck just outside
Harburys 22, Sid Hirons pop pass to man of the match, Chris Copson, saw
the latter run over the defender immediately in front of him , and
sprint under the posts, Dolphin converted to complete the scoring.
Harburys only reply throughout the afternoon was two penalty successes.
