HARWICH Rugby Club entertained Woodbridge in a Suffolk Chadacre Cup quarter-final on Saturday.

It was a good test for their evolving team, since moving away from the Eastern Counties League last summer, but they eventually lost 11-5.

The opening exchanges were even, with neither side giving any quarter but unable to exert any superiority.

Both had a fair share of possession and territory.

The game swung back and forth, with good running rugby, but with defences that matched the attacks.

Harwich's forwards gained a slight upper hand in the forwards at scrum-time.

This was exploited by their outstanding number eight George Brunning, who caused the Woodbridge defence problems with several pick ups and runs from the scrum, and he was ably assisted by back-row partners Damien Smith and Gareth Sanders-Crook.

Despite this, the home team could not gain any advantage, possibly lacking some clinical finishing when in the right areas of the field, and the visitors were able to make some inroads.

Having won the ball from a ruck, Woodbridge made a good break, following some sloppy tackling, which allowed one of their players to run into the Harwich 22.

With good support, the ball was offloaded and a well-worked try put the visitors on the scoreboard.

The conversion was missed.

The game remained a bit of a stalemate up to half-time, with the visitors leading 5-0.

The second half saw the home forwards start to dominate at scrum time.

The tight five of Hema, Cairns, Sewell, Woods and Leeks were pushing their opponents at most of the scrums, giving a good supply of ball.

Brunning kept causing the defence problems with his strong runs.

This gave the backs, led by Sean Mills junior, the opportunity to attack deep into the Woodbridge half.

Centres Owen Cowley and Elliott Hawken were making powerful runs.

Following good interplay between backs and forwards, Hawken was able to force his way over the line from short range to bring Harwich level on the scoreboard, 5-5.

Unfortunately, the conversion was missed.

The home team should have kicked on at this stage but were stopped by some decent defence from their visitors and some good attacks as well.

The game became a bit of a stalemate.

Unfortunately, it was Harwich who gave away a couple of kickable penalties in the last quarter, both of which Woodbridge were able to convert to take the lead 11-5.

Harwich had a penalty of their own which was narrowly missed, leaving Woodbridge with their six-point lead and a deserved win.

Tomorrow, Harwich are back in Essex League Shield action as they take on Dagenham at Low Road.