The two’s played this weeks game on the first team pitch, also known as the carpet, against a sharp looking Hampstead side. For once, Hitchin could boast the bigger side but with this probably came the tag of the slightly slower and un-fitter side, and in the end this told on the score sheet.
Hitchin dominated the early phases of the game, spending a lot of time in the Hampstead half with big runs from Carl Astley and Gordon White punching dents in the opposition defence. But after a few penalty attempts, Hitchin only had 3 points to show for their effort. The Hampstead team, then scored off their first real pressure phase of the game, taking the score to 5-3 which is how it remained until half time.
The penalty count grew in the second half and a first ever yellow card (or so he says) for club Legend Tiddles meant the Hitchin side were down a man, Hampstead taking advantage and cutting the Hitchin defence open a few times by some nice back play, orchestrated by their young and talented fly half. Hitchin were up against it now, and getting back to 15 spurred them on to put some real pressure and phases together. Dale Baines pulled the defence from side to side with some telling interventions from Chris Martin at full back. Eventually after some more good back play from Ashley Papworth and Chris Hillyard, as well as a strong platform put on by the forwards, Gordon White crashed over for Hitchins first try. There was a short delay after this while the speed bump that Gordon had used on his way to the try line lay rather dazed on the field.
The last 5 minutes were tense but Hampstead were just a touch quicker at getting to the breakdowns, forcing turnovers and eventually holding on to win the match 17-14. With a few changes to the Hitchin team just 20 minutes before kick-off, some big mentions for some of the guys who stepped up. Michael Askwith was named the Hitchin man of the match, having come up from the 4th team and putting in a tireless display. A number of the guys played their first match of the season and impressed, Carl Astley, Chris Martin and Chris Hillyard to the fore. Also a special mention for Ben Pharisi, who looks to have found his natural position in the back row.
Next week the boys head over to face Hertford looking for that elusive first win of the season.
Team Tom Beck, Richard Stidolph, Max Stallard, Max Clayton, Carl Astley, Adam Howard, Dale Baines, Ashley Papworth, Gordon White, Jason Kingsley, Christopher Hillyard
Subs Mark Tidey, Chris Martin, Michael Pegg, Ben Phairasi, Emma Cooke
Scores T: Gordon White (1)
P: Dale Baines (3)
Player(s) of Match 1. Christopher Hillyard, 2. Ashley Papworth
The league: Herts Mddx Merit Table