Harrow confirmed their spot as league leaders in London Two North West with a 21-5 win over Tabard.

Tabard started brightly but, having secured good ball at the first scrum, it was Harrow who were awarded a penalty at the breakdown and they gratefully accepted the first three points of the game. They added to their lead, somewhat against the run of play, with an unconverted try.

Tabard responded with an unconverted try of their own. A they were awarded a penalty Jack Reilly kicked the ball deep into Harrow territory. The lineout secured good ball only to have the drive stopped illegally, forcing the referee to brandish the first of seven yellow cards. Their depleted pack was unable to cope with the next catch and drive and Cam O’Connor crashed over.

It was O’Connor’s last involvement as, after half-time, he went off injured. Tabard were dealt a further blow when Reilly retaliated to a high tackle, resulting in both players being sent to the sin-bin. To add insult to injury, the referee reversed the penalty from the tackle in Harrow’s favour and they added three more points.

Further yellows were to follow for two players wrestling off the ball. The Harrow player was on his second card and was thus.

Harrow kept play in Tabard’s 22 with judicious use of the swirling breeze and were awarded a kick-able penalty when Tabard scrum half Harry Gough was adjudged to have come offside at a scrum. The successful kick took the score to 14-5.

Tabard took play back to Harrow but the referee again saw fit to brandish two further yellows, one to Tabard flanker Liam Kenny who had acted as peace maker after a coming together. Tabard were not able claim further points and it was it was Harrow who picked up loose ball, span it out to the wing, who raced in for the final try of the game.

Team

B Lake, Girdlestone, W Lake, Barrow, O’Connor, Beadle, Kenny, Priscott, Gough, Reilly, J Woolley, Arasa, J Calnan, Aguila, Thornton. Replacements: N Woolley, Hirst, Tilley