On a day where the amount of substitutes between the 2s and 3s could only just fill a two-seater sports car, the players that were available at kick off knew they had to stand up and be counted.
The team was a good mix of youth and experience with players joining the core of the 3s by coming up from the 4s, returning from injury or simply getting back into the swing of the season; every player was worthy of their place in the team and thanks to Ed Roberts who played out of position on the wing and had a good game putting in some big hits and gaining yards with his direct running.
The game started on the back foot with some missed tackles meaning the Saffron wing forwards could trundle up the pitch into Hitchin's 22. However, with some good defensive work from forwards and backs Saffron could only manage to come away with 3 points. During a number of scrums on Hitchin's own 5 metre line, the pressure from the Saffron front row took its toll on Aaron Johnson's ribs who had to come off and was replaced by the rejuvenated (and slightly more beardy) Pat Dunne.
Saffron's first try came from a defensive lapse in concentration in the form of a misjudged bounce allowing the Saffron centre to knock the ball forward into the air several metres to gather the airborne ball to touch down as he was (apparently) in control of the ball!
Saffron's wing took advantage of an overlap to score and then another try followed through the Saffron pack. This was followed by a great tem try by Hitchin combining runs from Dermot, Andy Lockley, Mike Wilkins and Christian Frisch which enabled Dom Horn to score on his return from injury.
The second half was different in terms of Hitchin starting to string some good phases of play together and they were able to gain more control on the game. Hitchin were making the best of a scrappy game against a more experienced and wiley opposition.
A number of Saffron tries were scored and this seemed to cause a late flurry of free flowing rugby from Hitchin.
Big Carl Astley managed to take advantage on a number of well worked lineouts to create space for the rest of the pack to move forward. Then Carl himself broke the defensive line with several Saffron players hanging off him to score. This try was converted by full back Mike Wilkins.
Saffron kicked off following the Hitchin try, the ball wasn’t going 10 metres and the Saffron players stood still and were getting ready for a scrum, however Astley had other ideas, catching the ball mid stride and steaming down the wing, legend has it that there was also a dummy step involved but these reports cant be confirmed. Astley was eventually shepparded into touch to enable him to recharge his batteries.
The next attack allowed more good teamwork and interplay taking Hitchin up the pitch with whole team involved. Chris Maguire who was at the centre of most of the phase play in the game attacked in the Saffron 22 and offloaded to enable new 3s captain Joff Lord to score.
The score remained the same until the final whistle but more positive team play from Hitchin ensued until full time.
There were some good individual performances, most notably Carl Astley and Dom Horn; with Dave King, Frisch, Dermot, Ed and Wilkins all making strong contributions in both offence and defence. The forwards managed to hold their own against a more experienced and bigger pack and contributed well themselves with Max Melville always looking to get forward, Sam Underwood having a storming game in the back row tackling anything that moved and hooker Andy Lockley having a solid game with some direct and dynamic running.
To carry on a 3s report tradition beard watch was continued wit Pat Dunne with his new facial hair and also Lockley who also gets the award for the post match smartest and best groomed player.
Team Aaron Johnson, Andy Lockley, Dave Turner, Carl Astley, Rob Pankhurst, Samuel Underwood, Joff Lord, Max Melville, Chris Maguire, David King, Edward Roberts, Christian Frisch, Dominick Horn, Dermot Coughlan, Michael Wilkins
Subs Patrick Dunne
Scores T: Joff Lord (1), Dominick Horn (1), Carl Astley (1)
C: Michael Wilkins (1)
Player(s) of Match 1. Carl Astley, 2. Dominick Horn, 3. Samuel Underwood
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