Harrow's tough start to the season hit a new low last weekend when they were forced to concede their league match at Old Hamptonians as their injury crisis deepened.
A mix of illness, injury and player unavailabilty meant they were unable to field a team with enough experience to fulfil the safety criteria in the front row.
Prop Terry Mackay succumbed to illness, while Rob Franklin (rib) has joined the likes of Mark Chapman (ankle) and fly half Andy Elliott (knee) on the sidelines.
Harrow face a must-win clash with fellow strugglers Old Merchant Taylors at Grove Field (2.30pm kick off) on Saturday.
Harrow RFC's U9s suffered mixed fortunes in their four game series against
Finchley last Sunday. They lost the first game 2-0 despite a stirring second half fightback led by William Stephenson and Callum Manning.
A very brave defensive display from Jake Cooney and energetic tackling from Alfie Richardson could not stem the tide as Finchley pushed over the line for two first half tries in the second game, which saw the visitors run out as 5-1 winners.
Good work by Ciaran Plum and Connor McNicholas saw Harrow grab a score back but Finchley crossed the line three more times with a strong second half display. Ben Piscitelli and Ben Robeson impressed in the third game, while Daniel McCabe Rogers and Dillon Foley-Horan made some determined runs. However, Harrow ran out of steam and lost 3-0.
In the final game, however, Harrow made amends with a 4-0 triumph. Some robust forward play from Daniel McEvoy and Rory Devery Kavanagh forced turnover ball that led to a brace of tries for Connor Liddel. Adam Talib finished off a fine run by Harry Logan before Liddel completed his treble with a fine individual effort. * Harrow is holding a recruitment drive at its Grove Field base on Saturday. There will be a barbecue and disco at the clubhouse in Wood Lane, Stanmore, from 7pm while donations to the club will be welcomed.
Second team captain, Nick de Jongh, said: "The club runs two teams at the moment, with the second team finishing second in the league last year. We wish to increase this to three teams this year and then four next season. All are welcome over the age of 19 as they fall in the youth league. The drive is to get more people involved in rugby as a form of exercise and building social bridges in the community." * David Hiles, the long serving committee member and president of Pinner & Grammarians RFC, was awarded honorary life presidency last weekend.
Hiles, whose 70th birthday was marked by a Golden Oldies match at Shaftsbury Playing Fields on Saturday, was informed of the honour after receiving an inscribed tankard from club chairman Andy Wright in recognition of 40 years as a committee member, which included 25 of those as honorary secretary and seven as president.
Hiles also received a shield from David Gershlick, chairman of the Middlesex County RFU Marketing Committee, for giving more than 30 years' service to the game in the county. Meanwhile, Pinner & Grammarians lost 33-7 to British Airways in their Herts/Middlesex Division Four game.
David Manning's try was converted by Alex Boue early in the second half but a mix of injuries and missed tackles saw Airways pull away.
* Salvatorian College U15s rugby team have been savouring every moment of their trip to Dublin this week as they became the first team to represent the college on an overseas tour in more than 25 years. The squad have been pitting their wits against teams in Dublin during the October half term break.
Head of PE, Shane Davey, would like to thank all who have made the tour possible including local businesses who helped raise more than £3,000 to fund the trip.
