Market Harborough v Olney - 16th September 2023

In what we are reliably informed is diarrhoea awareness week (runs from Monday to Saturday) we had another away trip to Leicestershire, albeit just over the border to Market Harborough. An experience which could be either hospitable or hostile, depending if you’re watching or playing. Always tough opponents so the Olney boys would have to perform well to achieve a favourable result. It’s a pleasant town though, once famed for the manufacture of corsets and was a stopping off point for the Jarrow marchers in 1936.

On a warm afternoon, Olney took to the field with another young side featuring many changes from the previous week, but expectations were high and they would continue to play the style of rugby we have been used to in the last couple of seasons. Olney played against the breeze in the first half and after the sides had tested each other out a few times Harborough worked their way into the red zone. After three or four phases the ball was zipped along the backs for a score wide on the left.
On their next meaningful attack, Harborough settled for a drop goal to add to their tally. Olney were still playing some exciting rugby though and some hard running by the Bennett boys, Tommy Herman, Charlie Hicks and captain Eddie Goss got them into the right areas which gave the chance for Harry Tongue to dart over the line for a try on his debut, converted by Dave Simpson. Towards the end of the half a 5m scrum was won by Harborough and a bit of fancy footwork saw the Olney defence breached for the second time and more points for the home side. After the conversion the score at half time was 15-7.

Olney continued to run hard with ambition after the break but met with some tough defence and it was Harborough who added the next points when driving over from a 5m scrum. A pass interception by Harborough and a run in from halfway gave them the next score shortly after to give them their bonus point for the afternoon. Oscar Bennett and Tommy Herman then adopted the direct approach which paid off when Bennett scored a well deserved try under the posts. The game was interrupted on occasions due to penalties from the rigorous interpretation of the high tackle law which seemed to affect the continuity somewhat, and it was from one of these penalties when Harborough kicked for territory. A catch and drive from the lineout was to be the inevitable result for the try. The referee was then notified of an incident of targeted abuse which he dealt with accordingly but unfortunately this appears to be occurring more frequently than one would hope in today’s modern game. Enough said.
With Olney on the attack again, a deliberate knock on saw a yellow card for Harborough and quick thinking by Herman got him a try of his own, again converted by Simpson. With Olney chasing a bonus point of their own, a loose pass allowed a second interception and a final try for Harborough taking the score to 41- 21 at the final whistle.

As mentioned earlier, a tough afternoon but nothing to be disheartened by. With a bus trip home a certain amount of team bonding occurred (I’ve seen some pictures!) which is not a bad thing and all part of developing a good atmosphere within the squad.

A tale from our favourite couple this week recounts the occasion when Mrs Harris came home looking quite flushed but holding a five pound note. She explained that she had met some young lads on her way home who said they would give her a fiver if she climbed up a tree. Mr Harris pointed out that they only wanted to see her knickers. She said “I thought of that too, so that’s why I took them off!”