Harpenden ultimately succumbed to Eton Manor’s dominance at scrum time to go down by 9 points in a tightly fought contest in Wanstead.

The Harpenden outfit had a number of changes going into the game with Alex Brownlie stepping up to make his 1st XV debut at number 8.

The home side got the better start with a well worked try in the right hand corner following some back and forth in the middle of the pitch. From then on Manor were starting impose themselves on the Harpenden pack but despite a string of penalties they were unable to convert the pressure into points.

Following this defensive effort Harps were able to equal the score with a try of their own following a searing break from winger Atkinson that was finished off from short range by captain Speirs.

Both sides traded blows in what was a phenomenally physical encounter and Eton Manor’s set piece dominance soon paid dividends with a sequence of scrums from the resulting kick off that eventually led to penalty try to go 14-7 ahead.

Manor once again flexed their muscles and bagged another 5 point score taking advantage of a lapse in concentration at the breakdown which gave the left winger enough space to finish well in the corner. At 19-7 Harpenden then lost Ollie Mann to the sin bin who was shortly followed by a home player and with both sides down to 14 men Harpenden looked the more likely to score with Stagg and Speirs making some yardage through the middle.

Once the start of the second half Harpenden were able to trim the deficit with a Tom Sweeney from 45 metres. The home side however were controlling the game through their set piece and despite significant Harpenden effort to thwart the East London eight they were able to turn the screw and another penalty try extended their lead to 26-10.

The effort coming from the purple clad men was huge, as through the course of the game McSporran, Hague-Blundy and Coates were all lost to injury and the fifteen remaining on the field dug deep to stay in the match.

Bloisi, Warren and Charlier started to make inroads with some rampaging carries. In the end it was Nkwocha who broke through to score and give Harpenden slender hope of a comeback.

As a Sweeney penalty drifted wide, the visitors chances to salvage any league points from the game also slipped away.

Harpenden welcome 6th place Southend to Redbourn Lane next weekend.

Harpenden: Warren, McSporran, McKenzie-Cardy, Tominey, Nkwocha, Bloisi, Charlier, Brownlie, Gulliford, Mann, Hague-Blundy, Stagg, Speirs, Atkinson, Sweeney.
Reps: McLoughlin, Coates, Hales

Photo credit Martin Pearl. www.etonmanorrfc.com