Wold’s Dogged Second Half Display Earns Them Deserved Win Over Harlow
Southwold 18 – 13 Harlow
This was not a game for the rugby purists but it was a game that showed a different side to Wold’s character. With so many of the regular 1st team squad out injured the entire team had to be reshuffled and there were five call ups from the Development Squad.
Callum Easton, Guy Blades and Callum Ball who had all played once or twice before came in as did Jamie Edwards and Dan Clark for their 1st Team debuts.
Second row Jamie Jenner also played at 8 for the first time and Chris Aldous made his first appearance at prop this season after pretty much recovering from a groin injury and Luke Wade at 10 still was suffering the last effects of tonsilitis which had laid him flat all week.
Put that all together and pre match expectations were nervous for Wold to say the least.
However after a shaky first half which saw a Luke Wade penalty on ten minutes give Wold the lead, only for Harlow to reply with a good try wide on the left wing five minutes later, the score was still 3 – 5 after 39 minutes , in what had been up to that point a pretty dull first half.
Suddenly the game burst in to action following another Wade penalty which gave Wold a one point lead, as a high kick and chase from Wold saw Ritchie Thickett go over in the corner for Wold’s first try and Wade slotted the conversion from the touchline for the extra two points.
The half time whistle did not come however and Harlow went straight back in to Wold’s half and kept the ball alive for fully five minutes more before earning a penalty in front of the posts which they duly kicked and the score was 13 – 8 at a little delayed half time.
The game could have gone either way and Harlow now also had a wind advantage in the second half but Wold put points on the board first when Cemil Duruk weaved his way over at pace for Wold’s second try again wide on the right but this time Wade ‘s conversion attempt came back off the post as the score moved to 18 – 8 in favour of the home side.
Harlow replied straight away with a try of their own beside the left hand corner flag but the conversion fell short of the posts.
Despite having to battle back up the pitch after many Harlow clearing kicks Wold managed to have the lion share of both possession and territory and but for a couple of costly errors ten metres out could have had at least one more try if not two as the makeshift side gained in confidence and the 18 – 13 scoreline remained for the last twenty minutes until full time.
It was a good win for Wold and one that was fully deserved albeit it will not be remembered for its quality of play but rather for Wold’s refusal to give up that second half lead and simply to grind out the result against pretty harsh odds.
MOM Callum Easton who at Hooker looked better and better as the game went on.
ARN THE WOLD !!
All pictures courtesy Linda Cayley
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