Top placed Grasshoppers visited Hitchin , knowing that victory
would confirm their promotion .
With the wind going directly down the pitch Hitchin spent the
first 15 minutes trying to get out of their half ,uring which they conceded a
penalty for not releasing and a converted try when the Grasshoppers fed the
ball wide for the winger to go over in the corner.
Good interplay between the winger and the full backsaw
Hitchin into the Grasshoppers half but a penalty against them gave the ball back
to Grasshoppers ,who however failed to find touch and Hitchin ran the ball back
to the opposition 22 where Grasshoppers were penalised and Hitchin kicked to
touch 10m out The lineout was lost but
Hitchin were awarded another penalty which resulted in a 5m lineout, but again
the chance went begging as Hitchin were penalised for playing the ball on the
floor.
After 30 minutes Grasshopper
went on the attack and broke through for an unconverted try.
Hitchin fought back on the stroke of half time when Peachy
picked up a knock on by Grasshoppers on the half way line and although tackled
was able to reach the ball over the line for a try converted by Wiggins.
7 – 15 at halftime.
Shortly after the restart a pass from Bolter to Gregory was
adjudged to be forward to deny hitchin a certain score.
With 20 minutes gone Hitchin kicked out of defence but the
ball was fielded by the Grasshoppers 15 and run back to score in the corner for
an unconverted try
Grasshoppers stretched their lead further with two tries in
quick succession, one from several phases of play and the other from good inter-passing
by their three quarters, to break through a tired Hitchin defence
Hitchin had the last word when captain Bolter went over from
a maul on the Grasshoppers line which was converted by Wiggins.
A good performance by the home side, which belied their
position in the league
Hitchin entertain Finchley RFC at Old Hale way on Saturday 14
April in the last league game of the season
On
the following Saturday they visit Datchworth RFC for the Herts President’s Tankard competition semiTeam Stuart West, Thomas Tidey, James Akrill, Samuel Underwood, Nick Panton, Harry Elleston, Adam Baird, James Bolter, William Evans, Ben Wiggins, Charles Wood-Jones, Carwyn Morgan, Jack Peachey, Ryan Godfrey, Harry Cartwright
Subs Sean McGinnity, Lewis Pettinger, Rhys Gregory
Scores T: Jack Peachey (1), James Bolter (1)
C: Ben Wiggins (2)
Player(s) of Match 1. Harry Cartwright, 2. Nick Panton
The league: London North West 3