During the first 20 minutes both
sides were getting to grips with the weather and play moved between the
respective 22s.
Hitchin lost a player to a
yellow card for a high tackle and Datchworth capitalised with a rolling maul
from the resulting penalty line out, going over the line for an unconverted
try.
Hitchin’s injury list grew, as first Jack Peachey and then Alistair Southward
were replaced
On the half hour mark Datchworth
scored again with an incisive curving run by their winger who although tackled
was able to offload to the supporting player who scored under the posts to make
the conversion a certainty.
Back to fulll numbers, Hitchin fought
back up the slope with a kick and
chase from Harry Cartwright, and were
awarded with a successful penalty .
Half time score 12 - 3 to the hosts.
Minutes after the break Datchworth
were on the offensive and a perfectly judged kick by the outside half was
gathered by the winger to cross in the corner.
Hitchin went further behind when they
were penalised in front of the posts and were further punished when the
Datchworth winger broke through several tackles to score wide out.
Hitchin , back on the attack having gained a better understanding of how
each other played, following the disruption of losing now three players through
injury , scored a converted try , with their player of the match Adam
Baird touching down
Just before the final whistle another
new cap Tom Spratt at no.8 at went over after a period of considerable pressure
on the Datchworth line, ben Wiggins adding the extra points.
Team Harry Elleston, William sale, James Akrill, Nick Panton, Samuel Underwood, Adam Baird, Lewis Pettinger, Dale Baines, Elliot Gibson, Ben Wiggins, William Rooney, Carwyn Morgan, Harry Cartwright, Alistair Southward, Jack Peachey
Subs Tom Ramsay, Thomas Spratt, Tom Harries
Scores T: Adam Baird (1), Thomas Spratt (1)
C: Ben Wiggins (2)
P: Ben Wiggins (1)
Player(s) of Match 1. Adam Baird
The league: London North West 3