Manor played H.A.C this week and although it was an away fixture H.A.C wanted the game played on Manors 3g pitch. With the player unavailability list hitting a seasons high of 17, Manor gave 1st team debuts to three players as well as giving former 1st team stalwart Garth Tucker his first start for over two seasons.

Manor kicked off the game with a biting wind at their backs and had the better of early play. After winning a scrum on halfway a long clearance kick by George Bradley got caught in the wind and went dead brining play back for a scrum. Although HAC won the ball and drove at Manor the player was isolated allowing Calvin Bradley to get his hands on the ball and win a penalty which they kicked into HAC’s 22.
Here Manor had a period of pressure close to the try line with some big carries by Calvin Bradley, George Cosmo, Daniel Peasnell and the rest of the Manor pack, but HAC defended well and eventually Manor were penalised for going accidently off-side.

From the subsequent scrum HAC cleared their lines through a box kick but it went straight to Nick Horton who set up a counter attack, linking with Aaron Lowe and Oscar Townend before winger Tala Petelo crashed through a couple of tackles before being brought to ground and winning a penalty. Horton took a quick tap and saw space on the blind side which he darted along before feeding Cosmo on the charge, when he was stopped 7 meters short of the line Horton fed Paddy Sheeny out wide and the flanker had the pace to run in at the corner for Manors first try. George Bradley slotted the difficult touchline conversion and Manor had taken the lead 7 – 0 after 14 minutes.

With the weather deteriorating rapidly both sides were having trouble controlling the ball but it was HAAC who were next on the scoreboard after a break from inside their own half HAC’s No 8 ran through some weak tackling to score a seven point score bringing the scores level after 21 minutes.

Things got worse for Manor when they gifted HAC possession from the re-start and when a high kick was put up they knocked the ball on close to their 22, with advantage being played the ball was hacked on and although Manor did get back to defend HAC turned the ball over and crashed over the line for their second try. The conversion was missed but after looking comfortable at the beginning of the match Manor were now behind 7 – 12 after 24 minutes.

The game now became a war of attrition with play centred around the middle of the park but as the temperature plummeted and freezing rain began to fall both sides were making handling errors.

As the first half drew to a close, Manor attacked one last time with the forwards again battering the HAC line, but great defence saw the ball turned over and HAC decided to try and run the ball out but they knocked the ball on, Townend reacted the quickest gathering up the loose ball and diving over the line for another 7 point score. With the ref bringing the half to a conclusion Manor held a slender 14 -12 lead.
HAC kicked off the second half with the wind and driving sleet at their backs, Manor secured the ball and cleared their lines, but HAC’s experienced fly half knew how to use the elements to his advantaged and kept Manor pinned inside their 22 with some intelligent kicking, the pressure soon paid dividends when after a couple of powerful forward drives the ball was moved out wide for HAC to score in the corner. With the touchline conversion well taken HAC took the lead for the first time in the match 14 -19 with 4 minutes of the second half played.
From the re-start Manor competed and won the ball, then through their forwards drove the ball on before winning a penalty which they kicked to touch. From the lineout they again took the ball on but were penalised for being offside and with the long range shot at goal successful HAC extended their lead 14 – 22 after 10 minutes.

With debutants Freddie Heaton and Jamie Milais now on the park Manor now had the better of possession and territory and had a sustained period of pressure close to HAC’s try line, the opposition were giving away a number of penalties and eventually one of their props, who had been pushing the boundaries of offside all game was yellow carded for an infringement at the ruck. Still Manor continued to batter the line but couldn’t find a way through HAC’s sometimes desperate, but well drilled defences. An accidental offside by Manor gave HAC the opportunity to clear the immediate danger from a scrum but Manor continued to drive the ball towards the line with Tucker and Heaton both making good ground, but yet again HAC defended well and eventually Manor knocked the ball on and their scoring opportunity had gone.
After almost 10 minutes of being under pressure HAC began to get back into the game and it was their turn to camp inside Manors 22, but Manor defended well and managed to clear the danger before winning a lineout on their 10 meter line. With the ball secured by Harry Reid Manor set up an impressive driving maul that took play 30 meters upfield before being brought down illegally for a penalty which Manor kicked to touch for a lineout 6 meters from the line. The throw in got caught in the wind and Manor gave possession away in the form of a scrum.

HAC now kept possession well and gradually worked their way into Manors 22 where after some good interplay by their forwards and backs went over the line for another 7 point score and took a winning lead 14 – 29 with a couple of minutes left to play.
As the game was coming to a close HAC launched another attack and despite appearing to knock the ball on close to the line were awarded another try which they converted taking the final score to 14 -36. With the final whistle being blown players from both sides couldn’t wait to get off the pitch and escape the artic conditions.

On the day Manor had been beaten by the better side, although the score line did slightly flatter HAC. With Manors resources being stretched to the limit, it had been good to give a number of players their first team debuts over the past few weeks and showed that they can push for a regular place in the team. With a break of a couple of weeks Manor are hopeful that a large number of the unavailable players will be up for selection for Manors first game of 2019 away to Fullerians who despite their lowly league position will be a stern test, but it will be Manors opportunity to get back to winning ways.