Haringey Rhinos 19 Datchworth 19 THE width of the upright denied Haringey Rhinos a late victory in their London League Divison Three game at home to Datchworth on Saturday. With the game heading for a draw in the closing minutes, Haringey were awarded a

Haringey Rhinos 19

Datchworth 19

THE width of the upright denied Haringey Rhinos a late victory in their London League Divison Three game at home to Datchworth on Saturday.

With the game heading for a draw in the closing minutes, Haringey were awarded a penalty only for full-back Gareth Jones to see his kick crash against the post and the visitors to scrambled the ball to safety.

Neither side will feel too hard done by the scoreline which was fitting in a game that saw the momentum swing back and forth as both teams traded tries without managing to pull clear.

It was Datchworth who started the livelier of the two teams, running in the first try of the game and converting to take an early 7-0 lead. Haringey, undefeated since the turn of the year, were quick to hit back though with Dom Gains claiming the ball at the base of a ruck and surging over for Jones to convert and level the scores.

A surge in confidence from the home side then saw a sweeping pass from fly-half Jade Murphy find outside-centre Nick Travis, who touched down for another converted try and a 14-7 half-time lead.

Haringey almost extended their advantage early in the second half only to be pulled back for a forward pass five yards from the try-line after a flowing move.

However, the visitors responded through the speed of their youthful back line and looked to have taken the game away from Haringey with two tries to make the score 14-19.

Haringey refused to surrender though and a resurgent Rhinos' pack made good ground from a lineout 15 yards from the Datchworth try line. Patrick Hawkes then directed play from the back of a rolling maul to score his side's third try, although the missed conversion kept the scores level.

With minutes remaining, Jones was unable to convert the penalty and the spoils were shared, Rhinos third draw of the season.

The Rhinos now sit sixth in the table and host relegation-threatened Bank of England on Saturday.

Haringey Rhinos: Berry, Brown, Thompson, Hewit, Handley, Hawkes, Edwards, Howson, Fletcher, Murphy, McDevitt, Gains, Travis, Huiscamp, Jones, Repl: Feek, Jakens, Wollaston.