HARROW 15 Hitchin 3
Skipper Simon Bram led by example as he struck 10 points to guide Harrow to their first win of the Powergen London Four North West League season.Bram exploited plenty of space to score the first try on 15 minutes after his team-mates had created the overlap before landing an early second half penalty.
He then converted Tershun Edwards' electric try to put the gloss on a deserved victory following two heavy defeats.
The visitors had the better of the line-out while Harrow bossed the scrums and were devastating in the loose. Their defence was significantly improved particularly in midfield and the back row was outstanding in cover defence. Open side wing forward Rob Franklin was the pick of the bunch and drew praise from Harrow coach Ewoud Botha.
After a nervous start Harrow drew first blood after good counter attacking play by full-back James Green and wing Edwards.
Quick transfer of possession saw Bram steam through the overlap to cross the whitewash.
Hitchin responded with their best spell of the half and reduced the arrears with a penalty. Harrow took the two point lead into the break but felt it should have been more after the referee disallowed a try five minutes earlier for interference.
Bram made it 8-3 with a penalty of his own two minutes into the second half before his side missed a glut of chances to put the result beyond doubt.
However, a stunning try after 70 minutes ensured the points were safe. Edwards somehow scooped up a poor pass off his bootlaces at speed before racing away down the touchline to cross in the corner. Bram converted.
The victory was soured by a shoulder injury to young second row Chris Armstrong, which could rule him out of this Saturday's difficult trip to Haringey.
Harrow: Green, Edwards, Bram (cpt), Jeffrey, Pratt, Elliott, Chirita; McKay, O'Neill, Sihaloho, Armstrong,
Eke, Nevin, Franklin, Argent. * Harrow RFC Under-16s got their Herts/Middlesex League season off to a flying start with a 53-0 hammering over local rivals Ruislip. They were 31-0 up at half time and, despite whole sale changes made at the break, the hosts still managed to score four tries in the second half.
