Pinner find going tough at Harrow

Sunday 21st March

Harrow U13s – 49 v Pinner U13s – 10

Up against it from the start Pinner found the pace of the Harrow back three simply too hot to handle for much of this match playing on a cloying pitch that sapped the energy from a young team.  Continuing to suffer from a list of injuries and absentees Pinner drafted in three players from the U12 squad Adam Stone, Jack Garraway and Lewis.  To their credit they soon found their feet didn’t looked out of place.

Conceding the now customary early score Pinner were soon ringing the changes using frequent rolling substitutions in an attempt to stem the flow.  The second Harrow try, however, was not long coming and Pinner looked in trouble.  Picking up the missed conversion quickly, Pinner ran back for the restart catching Harrow cold, Harrison Davies’s cleverly placed kick into space gave Adam Rees the opportunity he relishes, in the blink of an eye he out-sprinted the cover to gather the ball on the 22 and score for the second week running.  A rattled Harrow did regroup, however, to make the half time score 24 – 5. 

The second half began in much the same vein with Harrow dominant and the wide players a constant menace running in four more tries before Pinner managed one of their own.  With Pinner backs using what little ball they had quite effectively they made several forages into the Harrow 22, and when Rees again spotted some space wide left he set off for what looked a certain score.  The Harrow full back had other ideas, and whilst he may not have had his kicking boots on, there is no doubting his pace and he hauled Rees down just short of the line.  Callum George, running a great supporting line, was able to gather the ball at the breakdown and burst over for his second in two weeks.

This was the catalyst for Pinner’s best spell when they re-established their self belief and tore into Harrow, tackling all who moved.  Jamie Benavides was outstanding playing at flanker with a tackle count second to none on the day, and Dominic Seiler rucked and mauled powerfully all game always looking for work, a fine example he set as Captain on the day.  The final Harrow try seemed a little unfair adding salt to the wounds of a defeated but determined Pinner.

Team: Bhogul; Marx-Carr, Rees, George C, Mahoney; Davies, Garraway: Beaumont, Perrilo, Seiler, Stevenson (George B), Williams, Andreon, Benavides, Stone (Lewis).