In-form Harbury set another new record

Harbury 112 Pinley 0

On the back of last week's club record victory against Kings Norton, Harbury went into Saturday's rearranged game against Pinley with a real spring in their step, keen to emulate the performance if not the scoreline, reports Toby Whelan.

The hosts were forced into a number of changes due to injury and unavailability with Alfie Bowers, Steve Alford and Matt Homan all returning to the squad.

Coach Ben Linnett was keen for the side to get off to a good start and Harbury duly responded with flanker Chris Milburn scoring the opener inside three minutes.

It wasn't long before Toby Whelan added to the scoreline after a jinking run from midfield with Milburn claiming his second soon afterwards.

The points kept coming with Charlie Allerton flicking a pass out the back for Tom Allen to score his first of the season to secure Harbury's bonus point within the opening 11 minutes. Ricky Alford kicked two conversions for a 24-0 lead.

Pinley were down to 14 men for ten minutes following Whelan's try as an attempted slide tackle went suitably punished, and Harbury really made the extra man count. Ciarán O'Connor, playing out of position at scrum-half, added to last week's hat-trick with a similarly arching run from his own half and, not to be outdone, Alford added his own score and both conversions for 38-0 after 15 minutes.

Gaz Evans crashed over from a yard out before Whelan added his second following a well-executed set-piece play. Next up, Joe Cummings put hooker Jase Wood down the wing to score with O’Connor then getting his second try of the game and tenth of the season, muscling his way through half the Pinley squad on his way to the line.

Alford added his second with Tom Arnold then scoring his first of the game to take Harbury to 12 first half tries, Alford’s eight conversions securing a 76-0 lead at half-time.

Whilst the backs ran in most of the tries, the forwards also played their part with Pinley unable to deal with Charlie Allerton and Evans at kick-off, or Cummings, Dodds and Seymour Smith who powered into midfield for phase after phase.

Changes were made by the home side at the break and it didn't take long for Harbury to pick up where we left off with Rory Pond added two tries in quick succession and also setting up Arnold for his second.

Alford then completed his hat-trick, making it seven in two games and 11 since Christmas for the full-back.

The century of points was brought up shortly after when Will Higgins made a crunching tackle and break before being hauled down illegally leading to a penalty try.

There was still time for Whelan to claim his hat-trick – his fourth in five games – before Alford took his personal tally to 33 with his ninth conversion. Arnold also chipped in with a conversion.