St Albans visited Old Hale way on 15 December to compete in this crucial league match, in atrocious weather
Both sides were up for this keenly contested match. Hitchin kicked off with the wind behind them and scored after 10 minutes when St Albans were penalised for a high tackle, Ben Wiggins making sure despite the strong wind which was blowing diagonally across the pitch
Five minutes later fullback Ali Southward on a great angle took a pass to score under the posts, Ben Wiggins converting.
Much of the play was concentrated between the two 22 metre lines, coping with the wind & rain. Towards the end of the first half Hitchin attacked deep into the St Albans 22, and after several phases, the forwards produced quick ball and Ben Wiggins threw a long pass to Will Rooney who dived over in the corner for a try, which went unconverted.
St Albans hit back with a rare incursion into the Hitchin 22, and from a lineout 10 metres out they formed a rolling maul, which Hitchin were unable to prevent going over the line, to score. The conversion just creeping in on the inside of the posts to make the half time score 15 – 7 to Hitchin
An 8 point lead was scarcely enough to take the hosts into the second half against the strong wind and increasingly heavy rain
To prove the point, the visitors added to their score just after the break with a converted try, to be within just the one point, at 15-14
With the wind still howling in their faces, Hitchin gave up on the kicking game and concentrated on trying to play the ball through the forwards. This paid off when halfway through the second period they were awarded a penalty try. After which the Hitchin forwards to a great extent denied St Albans any possession, were scrummaging better as the match continued, and the backs were tackling soundly against their opponents
As a result, St Albans were unable to use the elements, which were strongly in their favour, with what little possession they did secure, and lost the battle for territory
Another good performance by the team, particularly in the second half, making up for their one defeat of the season, at St Albans back in September. Hitchin stay at the top of the league taking a 2 points advantage over Finsbury Park into the new year.
Team James Akrill, Thomas Tidey, Stuart West, Jonathan Welsford, Matthew Trussell, Samuel Willoughby, Frederick Rooney, James Bolter, Daniel Wiggins, Ben Wiggins, Adam Howard, William Clifford, Carwyn Morgan, William Rooney, Alistair Southward
Subs Rory Blackburn, Chris Martin, Thomas Spratt
Scores T: Alistair Southward (1), Frederick Rooney (1) C: Ben Wiggins (1) P: Ben Wiggins (1)
Player(s) of Match 1. Jonathan Welsford
The league: Herts/Middlesex 1