1st XV
W 43 - 7
Friendly
19-08-2017
Hemel Hempstead
By Dave Campbell
Scarborough ran in seven tries in an entertaining pre-season friendly at Silver Royd against Hemel Hemstead RFC who are coached by former Seasiders’ skipper and Coach Jason Lowde.
Both sides play at level 7 of the RFU league set-up so an evenly fought contest was anticipated. However, wing Matty Young having gone close a couple of times, Scarborough took the lead with only six minutes gone when debutante hooker Sam Dawson looped round from his own throw at an attacking line out and powered over for the opening score and a 5-0 lead. Fly-half Tom Harrison was unsuccessful with his conversion attempt.
Hemel came straight back and some of the exchanges were a bit tasty for a so-called friendly but with sympathetic handling from the referee Mr Alistair Taylor, oil was poured on troubled waters.
The Seasiders had by far the sharper of the back divisions and it was no surprise when a slick move down the left flank saw Harry Domett squeeze through a gap near the touchline to surge over, cut in and ground under the posts in the 24th minute. Harrison added the extras for 12-0.
The visitors probably had the better of the tight exchanges early in the game and their No8 Gary Jahn; running from the base of the scrums looked a very good player indeed. Hemel reduced the arrears to five points at 7-12 on the half hour when they were awarded a penalty try which under the new changes to the rules didn’t have to be converted.
Scarborough continued to look good with ball in hand and centre Tom Ratcliffe galloped in having collected a sweet inside pass from Domett in the 36th minute. Harrison converted for 19-7. And the lead was stretched to 26-7 at the break when lock Matty Oxtoby, who had been charging about the paddock like a young bull, surged over. Harrison added the extra two.
Their nineteen point lead probably flattered Scarborough somewhat but as he had done in the first half, Dawson started the second forty minutes with an early try to stretch the lead to 31-7 in the 42nd minute.
Competitive forward packs enjoyed a spirited joust in midfield and Mr Taylor kept them honest with his wise old head. Harry Domett was stopped just short of the line following a bustling run but pulled a hamstring and limped off in the 55th minute.
In a spirited conclusion to a hugely entertaining afternoon Dawson broke from a lineout and powered over in the 67th minute to complete a hat-trick; Harrison goaled for 38-7. And new Aussie Youth Development Officer Jim Perrett playing at fullback completed an emphatic 43-7 home win in the closing minutes when he turned on the afterburners to join the line on the overlap and scorch up the right touchline for a spectacular try.
Following a good performance in a narrow 17-19 defeat at North One side Driffield, Coach Smith’s charges impressed in this game against a side on tour whose strength was unknown. However you can only play what is in front of you and Scarborough worked hard and impressed. Fullback Jim Perrett looked solid, the back division looked slick and Tom Harrison just improves with age. The forward pack held their own with Dawson, Oxtoby, Phil Watson, Drew Govier and Rich Scales trying his hand at No8, taking the plaudits.