Manor travelled to North West London to play Old Haberdashers with the two sides last meeting a few years ago. Although sitting near the foot of the table Old Habs could and would prove to be a dangerous team and their lowly league position belied their ability.

Manor kicked off the match but Old Habs who were playing up the slight slope had the better of the opening exchanges until a knock on stopped their progress. From the first scrum of the game Manor got the nudge on allowing Garth Tucker to drive off the back making good ground before George Cosmo and John Robinson combined to take the ball to Old Habs 22 where a ruck was set up and quick ball shipped out to Manors backs, here Rhys Davis-Horne spotted a gap in the defence which he went through before sending a pass out to Ollie Phillips on the wing, here he had enough pace to evade the covering defenders to go in at the corner. Although the touchline conversion was missed after only three minutes Manor had opening the scoring 0 – 5.

From the restart Manor secured the ball but were soon penalised by the ref allowing Old Habs to kick for touch. With the ball secured at the lineout the hosts had a period of possession inside Manors 22 where some strong running and good passing out of the tackle stretched Manors defence, but it held firm until a knock on halted their attack.

From the scrum Tucker again made good ground from the base before the ball was set up and fed to the backs, here Moe Alotham took play down the blind side and fed Phillips on the wing. From just outside his 22 Phillips set off down the touchline, feigned to go outside his man then stepped inside him and using his express pace continued into Old Habs half, here he was met by another defender but he was dealt the same medicine as Phillips swerved around his attempted tackle and raced into Old Habs 22 and despite defenders converging on him, Phillips had the pace to go in at the corner for a spectacular solo try. With Nick Sheppard successful with the touchline conversion Manor had raced to a 0 - 12 lead after only 14 minutes of the match.

It wasn’t long before Old Habs struck back after Manor gave away a penalty which allowed the hosts to kick for an attacking lineout which they won then worked through the phases, driving at Manors line and keeping the ball alive passing out of the tackle until they eventually went over the line to score their first try and although the conversion was missed they had reduced the deficit to 5 - 12 after 18 minutes of play.

Things didn’t improve for Manor as their intensity dropped which gave Old Habs confidence and they upped their game taking play to Manor and winning the close quarter battles. From a scrum just inside their half Old Habs won the feed and although under pressure managed to get the ball out to their backs where their fly half broke through Manors line taking play to the 22 before passing out to his unmarked winger who ran the ball over the line to register what was a seven point score thus tying the match at 12 points all after 23 minutes.
Manor hit back after good work from Alfie Hutcherson and Tucker won a penalty 35 meters out, Sheppard took a shot at goal and Manor re-took the lead 12 – 15.

Manor were now playing the better rugby and pressurised Old Habs keeping them pinned inside their 22, winning a couple of penalties which on both occasions Manor opted to take a scrum. This enable Manor to continue pressing Old Habs try line, but good defence from the home team stopped Manor from scoring and when the ref brought play back for yet another penalty Manor reverted to the trusty boot of Sheppard to move the score line on to 12 – 18 with another well taken shot at goal.

Again Old Habs came back at Manor and their efforts were rewarded when Manor were penalised giving a simply shot at goal which Old Habs took bringing them within three points of Manor at 15 - 18.

From the re-start George Harman won the kick off which gave Manor a platform to again attack inside Old Habs 22, but the opposition’s defensive line was secure and as the ref brought the half to a close Manor went into the second half with a slender 3 point advantage.

Old Habs kicked off the second half playing down the slope and soon attacked Manors line but a great steal at the ruck by Harman gave Manor a chance to clear their lines but the clearance kick was poor and as Michael Eghan challenged for the ball he was deemed to have tackled his opposite number in the air giving away a penalty. Old Habs kicked for touch, winning the subsequent lineout they moved the ball along their backs where a grubber kick was put in behind Manors line, Davis-Horne got to the ball and after evading a couple of tackles managed to clear the ball into touch. But from the resulting lineout, as Old Habs again moved the ball along their line Davis-Horne went for the interception but knocked the ball on, this was deemed a deliberate knock on and he was shown a yellow card for his troubles. With the simple kick at goal successful after 7 minutes of the second half the scores were again tied at 18 all.

Despite being a man down Manor did go on the offensive with Hutcherson and Harman combining well to take play into the oppositions half, but possession was lost when the ball was held up in the tackle giving Old Habss the opportunity to hit back at Manor from a scrum.

Manor were now restored to their full complement but were under the cosh as Old Habs used the slope to their advantage to keep Manor pinned inside their 22, here Manor gave away a number of penalties and were perhaps lucky not to get another player sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock on. From the resulting penalty the hosts missed the opportunity to go ahead as the kick at goal missed.

Old Habs though didn’t have to wait long though to take the lead as they were now dominating play and from a scrum inside Manors 22 they set up a series of pick and drives before spreading the ball out wide to score in the corner, the conversion was missed but Old Habs now lead for the first time in the match 23 – 18 after 27 minutes of the second half.

Old Hab’s were now playing with confidence, keeping the ball close driving into Manors defensive line, passing the ball out of the tackle to supporting runners who were taking the ball at pace, this tactic eventually broke through Manors defences scoring another unconverted try, with 10 minutes of the game to play Old Habs had opened up a 10 point lead, 28 – 18.

At last Manor woke up and got back into the game, taking the attack to Old Habs and with play close to the hosts 22 Robinson and Tucker both drove the ball on, this was then continued by Barney Newbury who was stopped 10 meters short of the line, here Manor forwards produced quick ball out to their backs and when the ball found its way Alotham he set off across the park outpacing the covering defenders running the ball over the line from 15 meters out to score in the corner. The conversion close to touch was unsuccessful but with less than 5 minutes to go Manor have given themselves a chance with the score now 28 – 23.

From the re-start Manor controlled the ball and despite being under pressure from Old Habs managed to work some space for Phillips out on the wing, here he again used his pace to take the ball 40 meters up field before he was caught by the covering defence, Manor were quickest to the breakdown recycling the ball, only to knock it on giving the advantage back to their opposition with the game now going into stoppage time.

From the set scrum Old Habs cleared the ball but it allowed Manor to set up one final attack, this time Manor took care of the ball and built up a number of phases taking play into Old Habs 22 then as the ball was passed out one of Old Habs forwards knocked the ball on and as it was in the red zone the ref sent the player to the sin for a deliberate knock on. With a man advantage Manor opted to take a scrum, and although their scrum had been under pressure for most of the game Old Habs chose to pack down with 7 players. Manor got the drive on and with the ball being controlled by Tucker at the rear, they drove forward, Old Habs seemed to wheel the scrum and the ball was kicked into the Old Habs side of the scrum where they grounded the ball behind the line, but the ref had decided that Old Habs had done this illegally and as Manor were in control and moving towards a certain try, the ref had no option but to award Manor a 7 point penalty try. With the ref then immediately blowing for fulltime Manor had won a game that when there was less than 10 minutes left to play, looked a result that was far beyond them.

The Old Habs players were gutted, losing a game that they possibly should have won, and if they had been victorious no one could have complained as on the day they were the better side. Even so Manor proved that to win matches you have to compete for the full 80 minutes, and although playing well below their best Manor had somehow found a way to get a victory.

Next week Manor welcome Letchworth to the New Wilderness, the visitors have had a torrid start to this season, but as last years fixture proved when a struggling Letchworth came to Manor and deservedly defeated Manor, nothing can be taken for granted. An improved performance is expected, and required if another victory is to be gained.