Rugby Union
Pack powers Harbury into Vase semi-final

Harbury 34 Greyhound 0

A DOMINANT performance by the pack helped Harbury march into the semi-finals of the Midlands Region RFU Junior Vase with a convincing victory on Saturday.

The previously unbeaten Hereford visitors had no answer to the villagers pack and as a result their quick backs were unable to gain quality ball from set play.

Full back Mark Finch opened the scoring in the 11th minute by landing a simple penalty.

The visitors found the set scrums a torrid affair and they were driven off their own ball and were in retreat as the Harbury pack drove forward.

After 15 minutes Greyhound cleared the ball to touch but lock Matt Knight took the lineout ball and was driven over for a try.

Greyhound hardly had time to recover when a sharp move by the backs was clinically finished by Ricky Alford and Finch added the conversion.

The lead was increased when Knight caught lineout ball and was driven over to claim a second try earned by the hard work and endeavour of the home eight.

Harbury used quick ball from a breakdown on the Greyhound 10 metre line for outside half Andy Sandford to make a break and chip the ball into space behind the opposition cover.

The well judged kick was snapped up by Alford who touched down beneath the posts and Finch added the extras for a healthy 27-0 half time lead.

Greyhound enjoyed more of the play in the second half but were not helped by constantly dropping the ball or passing poorly.

Harbury weathered the spell of pressure with strong defence in the backline and competitive work in the loose from their back row of Chris Milburn, Tom Kittendorf and Matt Timlin.

An impressive victory was sealed when the ball was passed at pace to wing Ricky Alford who used his guile to beat his marker and touch down close to the posts with Finch slotting over the conversion.

The semi-finals of the Midlands Vase are on Saturday, January 19 and the regional winners go forward to a Twickenham final in early May.

Harbury return to Midlands Four West (South) action by entertaining Alcester on Saturday .

The 2nds bounced back to winning ways with a comfortable 43-5 victory over Southam 3rds.

Try scorers were scrum-half Michael Henderson 2, centre Dan Shinkwin, man of the match wing Sam Bushell 2 and No 8 Sam Hawkins with the boot of Adam Morris completing the points haul.

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