Manor welcomed Old Haberdashers to the New Wilderness for their first ever meeting. With the game in doubt due to a waterlogged pitch, only sterling work from club members made sure that the game went ahead. The downside was that the pitch was very heavy and became a bit of a mud bath, something that seemed the suit the visitors and hindered Manor as they were unable to play their expansive, fast paced game. As it turned out Habs proved to be a very well organised side, one which belied their mid table position.

Old Habs kicked off allowing Manor to secure the ball and work their way up field with Ben Thomas showing early promise as he proved difficult to bring down. Eventually the ball went into touch and from the subsequent lineout the visitors used their big set of forwards to good effect with a well worked catch and drive. With the ball moved out to the backs, Habs tested Manors midfield, but it was up to the task, eventually forcing Habs to kick long. The ball was fielded by Chris Jones inside his 22, he set off up field but noticed a wide open space on the opposite side of the pitch. He then put in a long kick for Michael Eghan to chase. The flying winger was first to the ball, gathered it cleanly, broke through two attempted tackles and outpaced the covering defence to run in from just inside his half. With the conversion from out wide successful by Thomas, Manor led 7-0 after 5 minutes.

With the ground cutting up, play now settled in and around the middle of the park, Manor forwards showing that they could play tight rugby, but it was soon apparent that in the shape of the Old Habs pack, they were up against worthy opponents. From a set scrum just inside Habs half, the visitors big No8 picked up and made ground before setting off Habs backline for a free flowing move that had Manor scampering back to defend and one that was only halted 10 meters from Manors line. With quick recycled ball Habs again attacked Manors line and were only stopped by an interception by Huw Levis, unfortunately he was unable to hold on to the ball giving the opposition an attacking scrum. From the scrum Habs tried to get the drive on, but this was held by Manor but the referee was playing an advantage for Manor not binding properly at the scrum giving the visitors kicker 3 easy points from a penalty, 7-3 to Manor after 15 minutes.

From the kick off Manor pressurised the catcher, who knocked the ball on, Manor played the advantage and made 20 meters with a series of pick and drives, but the forwards hard work came to nothing as they were penalised for an accidental offside. Manor pressurised the scrum ensuring that Habs had poor ball to work with, eventually forcing Habs into giving away a penalty 38 meters out. Thomas took a shot at goal and although distance wasn’t a problem, the ball just sailed the wrong side of the posts.

Habs were working well using their forwards to good effect both in the tight and the loose. A good catch and drive at a lineout saw Habs make 15 meters before Manor managed to hold the ball up. From the resulting scrum Garth Tucker made good ground before setting up quick ball for the Manor backline to attack with, Callum McKie and Thomas both made ground before the ball was recycled out to Eghan who had come in off his wing, he crashed through two tackles and appeared to be on his way for his second try with a clear run to the line only for the referee to bring play back deeming the last pass to have been forward.
Manor were now making basic errors handing the ball back to their opponents allowing them to show that were are a quality side. Driving forwards and recycling the ball cleanly enabled Habs to attack Manors line and although Manor defended their line well, eventually the pressure told and Manor gave away a kickable penalty. With the Habs No10 striking the ball cleanly despite the difficult underfoot conditions, the visitors were now within one point of Manor at 7-6 after 35 minutes of the first half.

Straight from the kick off Manor pressurised Habs turning the ball over and winning a penalty, but another basic error of kicking the ball into touch and goal gave the initiative immediately back to Habs in the form of a scrum. Manor upped their defence and harried Habs as they tried to attack off the scrum, turning the ball over and allowing Max Murray to link with Thomas who crashed into Habs defensive line, eventually winning a penalty for an Old Habs infringement. From 22 meters out Thomas made no mistake with the kick increasing Manors lead to 10-6 as half time approached.

From the kick off Habs contested well and turned over the home sides ball, but then after working hard to secure the ball, soon gave away dangerous turnover ball by kicking it down the throat of fullback Levis. He made them pay with an excellent clearance kick in behind the Habs attacking line. Eghan chased at pace and put the Habs fullback under pressure and when joined by his supporting forwards won a penalty for Habs not releasing the ball. From 35 meters out Thomas again struck the ball sweetly and it sailed between the posts for Manor to now lead 13-6 as the whistle was blown for half time.

Manor kicked off the second half and Habs soon showed that they were very much in the game as they drove up the pitch with powerful runners making good ground with the attack eventually being stopped by Manor 10 meters from their line, but at the cost of an attacking scrum. With the ball secured, it was quickly fed out by their impressive scum half to their powerful centre who broke through unusually weak Manor tackling and strolled in under the posts for what was a 7 point score. 13 all after 6 minutes of the second half and Manor needed to respond quickly to get back into the match.

Manor pressurised Habs from the kick off and as the visitors tried to run the ball at Manor, they were met by determined defence and eventually Manor were awarded a penalty which they kicked into Habs 22 for a lineout. With a good catch and drive Manor pressed the visitors try line, but when the ball was fed out to the backs, the slippery ball was not held giving Habs the opportunity to clear their lines from a scrum. From a clearing kick the ball found Levis inside his half, he set off taking the play back to Habs, chipping the ball forward and forcing the catcher into touch inside Habs 22 to maintain Manors pressure. From the lineout Manor set up a driving maul, well marshalled by captain Tryson Goodchild who was having an excellent match, as the maul began to break up Manor were penalised for an accidental offside giving Habs a defensive scrum. This time Manor got the nudged on and won the ball against the head, Nick Horton quickly fed his backline and Alex Hunter and Thomas made inroads towards the line, but knocked the ball on in the tackle. All was not lost though as the referee had spotted Habs backline offside and awarded Manor a penalty which Thomas easily converted and Manor edged their noses in front 16- 13 with 18 minutes of the second half gone.

Habs were still fighting and soon set off on a flowing move with forwards and backs combining well to take the attack into Manors 22 and was only stopped by Jones who managed to win a penalty as Habs failed to release in the tackle allowing Manor to clear their lines. From the resulting lineout Thomas put in a long clearance kick taking the ball deep into Habs territory. Pressure from Manors chasers was rewarded with an attacking scrum. For once Manor were able to put some pace on their attack against an opposition that appeared to be tiring. With the backline making ground the ball was taken on by the forwards where Tucker, Goodchild and Alfie Hutcherson all made good ground, drawing the defenders in and eventually winning another penalty for an infringement at a ruck. From 20 meters out Thomas was successful with the kick and increased Manors lead to 19-13. Habs were still only one score away from wining the match, something that they were still capable of.

Manor continued to press and made things difficult for Habs with intelligent kicking from McKie and Levis keeping Habs pinned inside their 22. When Habs did try and rumble the ball forward they were penalised for not releasing in the tackle. Thomas now had the opportunity to make the game safe with another shot at goal from 25 meters out and from out wide. Unfortunately he seemed to lose his footing as he took the kick and the ball went just wide. Habs tried to run the ball back at Manor from the 22 drop out, picking and driving and retaining the ball well but not making any inroads into Manors territory. A penalty was awarded to Habs but with no time left to play Habs were forced to run the ball, Manor defended well and soon held the ball up allowing the referee to blow for full time.

Manor had been involved in a hard fought match against a side that knew how to play the game in conditions that appeared to suit them better than the home side. With Habs being in the lower half of the league it just goes to show the quality of opposition that Manor have to play week in week out. The season is now at the halfway stage with Manor sitting in second place having only lost twice, once to the unbeaten league leaders Bury and once away to Luton where they had two players sent off. The job is only half done but as Manors squad nears to full fitness hopes are high of having an equally successful second half of the season. Manor have their first test next week against Romford where at the beginning of the season they were lucky to come away with a victory, despite putting in possibly their worst performance so far. Next week gives the team the chance to put that performance behind them, but must be wary as Romford have been getting some very good results of late so will be very dangerous opponents.