Barber shop quartet hits right notes for Harpenden in convincing Tabard win
Cobden Hill played host to Tabard's derby clash with Harpenden in London North West Three. - Credit: Archant
Luke Barber’s four tries was the standout performance in a number of fine individual efforts as Harpenden kept up their relentless charge at the top of London North West Two with a 75-0 win at Tabard.
A rainbow appears over Cobden Hill as Tabard hosted Harpenden in London NW3. - Credit: Archant
In total they ran in 13 tries, with Jimmy Speirs adding three, George Attfield and Conor McLean two and one each from David Green and Ed Preston.
McLean also slotted five conversions.
It was tough on Tabard but this was a clear indication of why Harpenden have won all six of their opening league games and sit top of the table, tied on 30 points with London Nigerian, but ahead by virtue of as vastly better points difference.
For the opening 12 minutes the game was played almost exclusively in the Tabard 22.
The hosts kept the visitors out quite well in that period with some solid defending but once Attfield found space out wide it was game over.
Twelve minutes later Harps had their bonus point and eight minutes after that Barber had completed his personal haul.
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They were all similar tries.
Yes, they worked the ball wall from the breakdown across the back division but, as any coach will tell you, missed tackles will kill you no matter who you are.
And Tabard were guilty of that.
They did produce their best bit of play in the lead up to half-time but needed just one more pass to stick to break their own duck.
Unfortunately it didn’t come.
The hosts kept plugging away in the second half and seemed to adopt the policy of the longer we have it, the less time they have to score.
Harpenden did just that of course, seven times in total after the break, but there was definitely plenty of spirit evident among the boys in navy blue.
But Harpenden just kept coming and on this form you would not back against them clinching promotion this year.
They host mid-table Chiswick next week while Tabard, who now lie second from bottom, have a trip to Enfield Ignatians, the side two places above them.
