No 8 Armel break from the scrum
Hitchin, newly promoted to London NW 3, travelled to Tabard, relegated last season from London NW2
Hitchin kicked off and were immediately put under pressure as Tabard forced their way into the Hitchin 22 but Tabard were penalised on the Hitchin 5 m line allowing the visitors to clear their line.
From the lineout Tabard continued to pressurise Hitchin into giving away a penalty for not rolling away. 3 nil to the home side.
An exchange of penalties saw the play oscillate between the two 22 lines.
A penalty to Tabard 5m out from the Hitchin line resulted with them going over for an unconverted try.
Good play by Hitchin saw them get to within a metre of the Tabard line but the ball was lost.
A penalty kick for goal for a high tackle was missed by Tabard.
Hitchin continued to struggle to get out of their own half, a penalty and yellow card against Hitchin saw Tabard go over the line but they were adjudged to have knocked forward. The scrum bought small relief as Tabard continued to pressure and eventually outflanked the defence to score in the corner, the try converted.
Hitchin were penalised for being offside and from the resulting lineout Tabard were able to force their way over for another try which went unconverted, to bring the score at half time to 20 - 0
Whilst the Hitchin pack were becoming dominant in the set piece scrums, the lineouts failed to function well, leaving the visitors with little good ball
Hitchin were penalised again in the first minute of the second half and this time Tabard converted.
Veteran centre Carwyn Morgan broke through into the Tabard 22 and finding no close support kicked through for the winger, the Tabard full back fielded the ball but was bundled into touch. Tabard were penalised at the lineout and Hitchin opted for a scrum from which Will Evans darted through to touch down for an unconverted try.
A few minutes later Tabard were penalised but the attempt at goal went wide.
Despite an exchange of penalties neither side could further the score, leaving the hosts winners by 23 -5
Team James Bolter, Harry Elleston, Stephen Freeman, Jonathan Welsford, Matthew Trussell, Dale Baines, Ruiri Shanahan, Armel Baufume, William Evans, Benjamin Wiggins, Greg Ranson, Carwyn Morgan, Jonathan Whitby, Dominic Baber-Norris, Elliot Gibson
Subs James Akrill, Ryan Arbon, Adam Shaw
Scores T: William Evans (1)
Player(s) of Match 1. Jonathan Welsford
The league: London 3 North West