Hitchin travelled to Hackney Marshes to face
mid-table Old Streetonians, looking for their second win of the season.
Hitchin immediately took possession from their own
kick off, but with Old Street playing a territorial kicking game Hitchin were
soon in their own 22. A well worked try
in the corner was swiftly followed by another, Hitchin’s defence failing to
mirror the Old Street attacking numbers.
Strong attacking phase play followed from Hitchin, resulting in a 5
metre scrum which the pack drove over the hosts’ line for Tony Williams to touch
down, ably converted by Ben Wiggins to reduce the arrears to 3 points.
Old Streetonians continued to earn territory by the
boot and play their Rugby in the Hitchin half.
Three unanswered tries came before half time, and despite debutant Jack
Powell going close to scoring on the right wing, the score favoured the hosts
27-7 at the interval.
After conceding an early try in the second half,
Hitchin began to pick up their game, punching holes through the middle to work
their way into the Old Street 22. With
an Old Street forward sent to the sin bin, their defenders were dragged out of
position, a well worked passing move resulting in a try from Charlie
Wood-Jones, again converted by Wiggins.
A lack of concentration allowed Old Streetonians in
again, as they worked an overlap to score in the corner, pushing the score out
to 39-14. As play resumed, and almost
immediately after returning to a full complement, a high tackle again reduced
the hosts to 14 men.
The resulting penalty was kicked to the 5 metre
line, from which a well-formed maul walked towards the line, finished off by a
trademark surge from Sean McGinnity.
Hitchin continued to press, with veteran Mark Tidey nearly going over in
the corner before being bundled into touch.
Territory and possession continued to swap until a
rapid breakaway from Hitchin worked its way to Harry Cartwright, who broke
through the defence, fending off a tap tackle to tumble over the line and earn
a 4 try bonus point for the visitors.
The game finished with an injury to captain Tom
Tidey. Hitchin outscored their hosts in
the second half but gave themselves too much work to do with a poor defensive
showing in the first half.
A week off for the Hedgehogs’ before Welwyn visit
King George V on 25th November.
Team Sean McGinnity, Thomas Tidey, James Akrill, Samuel Underwood, Nick Panton, Andy Cuthbertson, Lewis Pettinger, Anthony Williams, Rhys Gregory, Ben Wiggins, Jack Powell, Utah Taylor-Surman, Charles Wood-Jones, Jake Ware, Elliot Gibson
Subs Mark Tidey, Heinrich Schlehmeyer, Harry Cartwright
Scores T: Sean McGinnity (1), Anthony Williams (1), Harry Cartwright (1), Charles Wood-Jones (1)
C: Ben Wiggins (2)
Player(s) of Match 1. Andy Cuthbertson, 2. Jake Ware, 3. Thomas Tidey
The league: London North West 3