Harbury power into Vase final

Harbury produced a superb team performance to overcome a St Ives side on the cusp of promotion and reach the final of the Midlands Junior Vase.

With the coach journey still in their legs, Harbury found themselves trailing to a Mel Jessop try and conversion and penalty from home skipper Jim Robinson inside the first ten minutes.

Harbury took advantage of indiscipline from the St Ives forwards to respond, number eight Matt Knight touching down after an excellent catch and drive.

Harbury were moving the ball quickly from the breakdown and, from another ruck, Hendry Rheeders broke through the initial cover and offloaded to the supporting Steve Alford who used his pace to brush aside a tackle and touch down beneath the posts. Mark Finch added the conversion to put his side 12-10 ahead at the close of the first quarter.

St Ives lost a man to the bin for a late tackle and Harbury capitalised when Ricky Alford exposed the lack of cover to score a converted try to open up a nine-point interval lead.

The first score after the break would prove crucial and it was Harbury who got it, with Knight again forcing his way over. The conversion was missed but the lead was now out to 14 points.

The hosts were not finished, however, and with the aid of a penalty, took play to within five metres of the Harbury line. The initial attack was repulsed but Mickey Drake was able to squeeze through and touch down. The conversion was added and the gap reduced to seven points.

St Ives had their tails up but were undone by a swift counter from Harbury’s 22, Steve Alford outpacing the cover to score after George Bostock’s initial break.

The game was getting stretched and an unconverted score and penalty from St Ives brought it back to 29-25 with just under ten minutes to play.

The hosts were desperate to run the ball but they had to do it from deep as Harbury kicked well in the final stages to pen the home side back.

Excellent defence and key turnovers further frustrated St Ives and the last play of the game saw the ball find outside-half Ricky Alford who nailed a drop goal to seal the victory.