Manor welcomed newly promoted Harpenden to the New Wilderness this week, the visitors had made a flying start to life in the higher league with a convincing thrashing of Old Priorians last week, and with them, like Manor, benefiting from playing on a new AGP pitch Manor knew that they would be facing opponents that would provide a stern test.

Harpenden kicked off the game allowing Manor to exert some early pressure on their visitors, first up tackles were made with power often driving their opponents backwards. Harpenden were finding it difficult to get out of their final quarter of the pitch and finally resorted to a long clearance kick taking the ball into Manors half but Nick Horton was covering and returned the kick with interest into the visitors 22 where the ball went into touch for a defending lineout. Tom O’Connor stole the thrown in allowing Manor forwards in the shape of Ollie Waugh and Kirk Chettleburgh, to drive into Harpenden’s well organised defence, the attack was then taken up by Jamie Millais but when he was stopped the ref halted play for an injury to Harpenden’s No 8, who after treatment had to leave the pitch.

The game was restarted by way of a set scrum and Manor continued to test the defences of Harpenden with more big carries, this time from Jon Berry and Jack Sullivan. Harpenden remained solid in defence but with Manor in the ascendency it wasn’t long before they got an opportunity to record the first score of the game when a following attack was halted by a high tackle on centre Ben Bolton-Smith. From the penalty nearly 40 meters out, Cameron Dutch slotted the ball between the posts giving Manor a deserved 3 – 0 lead after 16 minutes of play.
Harpenden now began to get a foothold in the game and were enjoying more quality possession, but in Manor they had come up against a side that could more than match them up front and were, like them, well organised in defence. But as the game moved on Harpenden worked their way into a good attacking position and after a series of powerful forward drives, they found a gap in Manors defence and went over the line for a seven point score. After 26 minutes, despite all of their possession and territory Manor found themselves 3 – 7 behind.

It wasn’t long before Manor found themselves further behind when Harpenden again put Manors defence under pressure and again found the same gap to breach the line and go over for a second converted try. In a matter of minutes Harpenden had increased their lead to 3 – 14 with 30 minutes played.

Manor had to respond and challenged the kick off, Harpenden kicked the ball upfield allowing Waugh to charge back up the park and win a penalty. Horton took a quick tap and fed his forwards where Clettleburgh and Tom Christopher both made good ground with ball in hand, the ball was then moved along the line before going out of play for a Harpenden lineout. Chettleburgh stole the line out and drove over the line, only to be held up for an attacking 5 meter scrum. Manor now camped close to Harpenden’s line and won another penalty, taking it quickly, George Cosmo then Chelleburgh were both stopped inches short of the line, but with quick recycled ball it was moved swiftly along the line where Aaron Lowe drove to the line and managed to dot the ball on the line despite the attention of a number of defenders. With Dutch successful with the conversion Manor were right back in the game at 10 – 14 with normal time in the first half almost up.
Although Harpenden again went on the offensive a thumping tackle by Millais won a scrum. From deep Manors pack won the ball and firstly Waugh drove forward before the supporting Jack Sullivan drove on 25 meters, barging through would be tacklers before being brought to ground inside Harpenden’s half. The ball was quickly recycled out to Dutch who sent a well judged kick into Harpenden’s 22 where the ball went into touch. Unfortunately Sullivan was injured during his run and had to leave the field to be replace by Robb Falls, Jon Ewers also came on for Cosmo.

From the lineout Harpenden tried to run the ball out from deep but a thumping tackle by Boulton-Smith took his man to ground allowing Waugh to get over the ball and win a kickable penalty. Dutch obliged with the extra points and Manor closed the gap to 13 – 14 with just enough time to restart play.

Manor secured the restart and moved the ball out to Elliott Brown on the wing, he chipped the ball ahead and won the race to the bouncing ball then fly hacked it on to within a meter of Harpenden’s line, as he followed his kick he was beaten by an awkward bounce and failed to gather it cleanly. Berry was in close support and as he went to gather the ball he seemed to be tackled high around the neck and failed to gather the ball. The ref, who had a good game and was right up with play, let play continue and when Harpenden failed to clear the danger blew for an earlier knock on and the end of a pulsating first half.

Manor kicked off the second half and were soon on the attack after turning the ball over, driving runs from Berry and Millais allowed Manors backline to carry on the attack as they moved the ball swiftly along the line where George Bradly delayed his pass to Brown thus creating some space for the winger to dart along the touch line into Harpenden’s 22 before feeding the supporting Dutch on his inside, the fullback broke a tackle before wrongfooting Harpenden’s fullback and racing over the line to give Manor back the lead. An excellent conversion from out wide increased Manors lead to 20 – 14 after 5 minutes of the second half.

The game kept up is high tempo with both sides having good periods of attacking play, but being met by rock solid defences. It was Harpenden though that eventually broke the stalemate when after a sustained period of pressure they managed to break through Manors defence and score another seven point try and in the process re-take the lead 20 – 21 after 24 minutes.

Manor came back at their opponents and another fine break by Brown saw play move into Harpenden’s 22 where a knock on gave a defending scrum. The Manor 8 who had the upper hand in the scrums all game, drove their opposition back and won a penalty. With Dutch in fine kicking form it was no surprise when he added three extra points from 30 meters out giving Manor back the lead 23 – 21 after 30 minutes.
From the restart Manor’s hooker Berry set off on a devasting run, crashing through tackles, using his big hand off to good effect and taking play 30 meters up field before finally being brought to ground, the ball was well set up which allowed Manor backs to move it swiftly out to Brown who chipped ahead into space inside Harpenden’s 22 where he just failed to gather the ball cleanly.

From the resulting scrum Manors pack drove Harpenden’s 8 back and out of play for an attacking lineout. Christopher won the throw in allowing Manor to set up an unstoppable driving maul that drove 18 meters over the line where Falls claimed the try. Dutch stepped up for the crucial shot at goal and from the touchline gave Manor a 30 – 21 lead meaning Harpenden had to score twice to win with minutes of the game remaining.

From the restart Manor didn’t help their cause by giving away a couple of quick penalties in a row allowing Harpenden to go through the phases and eventually they drove over the line for another score. Their kicker was successful with the difficult conversion and the visitors were right back in contention with time almost up.

From the restart Manor competed and restricted Harpenden’s attack and when Christopher managed to hold the ball up in a maul, it looked like Manor had done enough to win the game. But from the scrum Manor gave away a couple of quick penalties allowing Harpenden to kick for touch for an attacking lineout on halfway. When Manor again transgressed at the lineout and with time up, Harpenden turned down the chance of another kick to touch, instead gambled on winning the game with a kick at goal from the halfway line. Fortunately for Manor the kick was well short and wide allowing Manor to kick the ball into touch and win a thoroughly entertaining game played in a hard and uncompromising but fair way by two well matched teams.

The game was a credit to both sides who gave their all and for Manor although some of their game management could be called into question there was no doubt that all the hard work they had done to improve their fitness over the summer break had paid dividends.

After the game Eton Manor’s DOR Mark Farrell said, “We were tested today by a very useful Harpenden side, with their brand of no thrills, but effective rugby. What developed was a real arm wrestle of a game, splattered with occasional quality and sporadic poor decision making. Ultimately we had enough in the tank to take a deserved win. Lessons will certainly be taken from today’s result as this new look Manor side evolves and learns to connect as a team.

Manor are back on the road next week when they travel to Amersham, a ground where they have not won a league match on.