OId Habs 9 Harrow 11

Middx/Herts Division One

Old Habs' jinx against Harrow continued when for the fourth time in the past three years they lost by less than one score to their local rivals.

This time the blow was especially hard to take as OH went down to a dubious try in the final five minutes in what was a game they could well have won in spite of fielding a pack depleted by injuries to four first-choice forwards.

As ever, OH started somewhat sluggishly but solid defence enabled them to weather Harrow's initial burst.

Then, with Rossney driving strongly in the loose, OH began to get on top and a sustained period of pressure resulted in Brooke slotting a penalty to give OH a three-point lead.

Despite coming close on numerous occasions, OH could not extend their lead - a fact not helped by the normally reliable Brooke unexpectedly missing a simple shot in front of the posts.

Harrow finished the half the stronger team but desperate defence limited their scoring to a single penalty which left the sides level at 3-3 at half-time.

The second half was just as well balanced, with both teams having dominant spells, but chances were limited to penalties.

Harrow scored first to take a 6-3 lead and then OH responded with two Brooke penalties to take a three-point lead into the final ten minutes.

OH hung on well but conceded a shattering try five minutes from time as the ball shot out of their own scrum.

OH continued to press and nearly pulled off a dramatic win as a break from Griffiths resulted in a move which was only stopped on the Harrow line.

OLD HABS: Griffiths, Djaba (Lambert), Cameron, Bannister, Brooke, Charles, Davies, Rossney, Hartley, Whittaker, Simmons, Taylor, Curry, Hurley, Kelly.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.