Hitchin travelled to
St Albans for their second league game, for a match between the two relegated clubs from the 2017-18 season
Missing a few key players, the team performed well enough in the
first half , although a number of handling errors and some poor defensive kicking put them under undue
pressure at times . A couple of scoring chances
were not taken , leaving them just ahead by 7-5 at half time
The St Albans pack gradually
took charge throughout the second half, with the visitors’ usually strong hand being nullified , and St Albans ran in another 3 unanswered tries to gain victory
The home side had started strongly, with most of the
possession & territory, but Hitchin held their ground, and it was not until the 20th minute that their defence was breached to allow an unconverted try to be scored
Ten minutes later, after dealing with more pressure in their 22 , Will Rooney broke out to take play to half way, and with play then switched to
the home sides’ 22, Ruiri Shanahan scored for Hitchin, converted by Ben Wiggins, to take a 2 point
lead
St Albans came close to adding to their score , but half time came
with the score at 7 -5 to the visitors
Within 10 minutes of the second
half St Albans were penalised in their 22 , leaving Ben Wiggins with an easy
conversion to take a 5 point lead. Hitchin continued to keep play in the home
sides’ half until a breakaway took play to their own 22, where they were
penalised St Albans kicked to touch on
the 5 line, and winning the lineout, mauled their
way over for a try, converted from near touch.
Hitchin came near to regaining the lead, with Will Rooney chasing a ick ahead and catching the defender unawares
to obtain possession, but lack of support meant he was unable to offload, and the chance had gone
As the game entered the last quarter, and with the gallant Hitchin pack tiring, St Albans scored 2 more tries as they took control, to win by 24 - 10
Team James Akrill, Tom Tidey, Max Stallard, Thomas Spratt, Matt Trussell, Frederick Rooney, Ruiri Shanahan, Armel Baufume, William Evans, Ben Wiggins, William Rooney, Jon Whitby, Harry Cartwright, Greg Ranson, Alistair Southward
Subs Daniel Wiggins, Nick Panton, Eric Hall
Scores T: Ruiri Shanahan (1)
C: Ben Wiggins (1)
P: Ben Wiggins (1)
Player(s) of Match 1. Alistair Southward
The league: London North West 3