Saturday 6th February 2010

Intermediate Cup Results

Loughborough 22:29 Lichfield

Peterborough Lions 9: 13 Melton Mowbray

Spartans 15 :18 Towcester

Worcester Wanderers 11:6 Market Harborough

Saturday 6th February 2010

Midlands East 2 (South)

Banbury 25:0 Aylestone St. James

Lutterworth 22:0 Old Newtonians

N'ton Old Scouts 17:0 N'ton BBOB 

Worcester Wanderers 11 – 6 Market Harborough

Despite their best efforts Harborough exited the Intermediate Cup at the quarter final stage. As the final score suggests this was a closely contested game the result of which could easily have gone in favour of Harborough. In the opening minutes of the game Harborough launched their big forwards into the Worcester defence with the hope of achieving both a physical and a psychological advantage. To their credit the younger home team pack withstood this assault and began to gain some possession for their speedy backs to deploy. The extra wide pitch was also an advantage to the Worcester runners as they threatened to break through the Harborough defence but the first score when it arrived was engineered by the forwards. With Marek Kwisiuk off the field serving a ten minute sin bin a neat ploy saw the home team Number 8 run round the front of the line out to cross almost unchallenged to claim the first try. The Harborough effort continued and having earned a good attacking position they were awarded a penalty which Billy Blair converted to reduce the lead. Within a few minutes Worcester swept up-field and although Harborough defended well they too conceded a penalty and were duly punished for the offence. The differing styles of the two teams made for an enthralling contest. With the exception of two sniping runs by Ed Bale Harborough used their forwards to bludgeon their way up-field whilst the home team were intent to move the ball away from the forward base for their outside runners to use. Despite the obvious advantage which Worcester possessed within their backs they failed to capitalise and as half time approached there was a suggestion that the Harborough juggernaut was stealing an advantage which promised well for the second half. With Worcester holding a meagre 8-3 lead Harborough’s Twickenham dream was still alive.

With a slight breeze to their backs Harborough might have hoped to dominate the territory in the second half but with some poor kicking and uncharacteristic handling errors they contrived to put pressure on themselves. The Harborough forwards excelled in the scrum and won most of their own line-out ball but with  their opponents sharper at the breakdown they were unable to completely dominate  play. A fine kick and chase by Blair earned Harborough a good attacking position and from the resulting line-out Harborough bullied the ball over the line for what looked a certain try. Unfortunately for Harborough the referee was unsighted and awarded an attacking scrum. With huge disappointment Harborough had to accept the decision but they did earn some reward when Blair slotted home his second penalty. The game continued on a knife edge as Harborough strove for territory one minute and then scrambled desperately the next as the home team swept forward. A mighty charge by Dave Docherty who, with Dan Bailey, were the outstanding players for Harborough, earned a good attacking position. From the resulting ruck Harborough were awarded a penalty which would have given them the lead but the kick drifted agonisingly wide. This proved to be Harborough’s last opportunity as the home team finished more strongly and added a further penalty to extend their lead.  Whilst the un-allowed try may have altered the eventual outcome of the game it would have to be a very jaundiced view that would deny that Worcester were deserving victors in a wonderfully tense game of rugby.