Melton RFC storm past Market Harborough in County Vets Cup

A rugby reunion is planned at Chi College

The visitors arrived at Market Harborough for their first away game of the season concerned at cry-offs and unavailability.

But Melton were soon in the ascendancy thanks to strong running from Sam Clemons, Rich Meakin, Paul Monterano and the outstanding Rich Evans, playing at outside-half.

With fantastic lineout work from Gavin Pryor and Stu Morley, plus very solid scrummaging from Steve Kerr and Bobby Goodliffe, tries looked inevitable.

The visitors ran in five tries in the first half through Meakin, Evans (2) and Pryor before the whole team joined in to set Paul Blagburn loose to cross under the posts as Melton turned around 29-0 in front.

Changes made at half-time didn’t alter the flow and Pete Broughton and Jonny Millar were soon on the charge.

Sam Clemons burst through off Olly Chapman before Meakin smashed his way through for his second try.

Harborough got off the mark with a consolation score before Phil Kerr popped up in support to Tony Berry for a great team try.

Last but not least, Neil Crowe deftly rolled the ball up for flying full-back Blagburn to step past three players in his own 22 and score a length-of-the-pitch try.

Clemons kicked five conversions from nine attempts to cap Melton’s comfortable passage to the next round.