George Eaton Debut for 1 XV
Hitchin
narrowly lost this game, which they should have won, had they taken their
chances, particularly in the first half
OMTs were
first on the scoreboard within the first two minutes with their centre cutting
through the defence to score an unconverted try.
Hitchin hit
back with good work by the forwards, forcing play into the OMT’s 22. This
ended with a knock on but Hitchin were able to push OMTs over their line but
the try was disallowed. A penalty for a
high tackle against OMTs was converted by Ben Wiggins to make the score 5 – 3.
A sustained
period of pressure saw OMTs confined to their own 22, lifted only when Ben
Wiggins slotted another penalty to give Hitchin the lead. From the kick off Hitchin were soon back in
the OMTs half and a strong run by James Bolter was finished off by Greg Ranson with a try
Hitchin
kicked off up the hill for the second half and a strong run by Armel Baufume
was stopped within 5 metres of the line.
A penalty against OMTs was kicked to touch and from the lineout Hitchin
pushed over for an unconverted try , credited to Stephen Freeman
Hitchin
couldn’t field the ball from the kick off resulting in a lineout for OMTs on
the Hitchin 22 metres line, from which they fed the ball to their inside centre
who cut back to score an unconverted try.
Hitchin got
a try back by pushing the OMT scrum back off their own ball, and Will
Evans pounced to score, the conversion attempt hitting the upright.
Hitchin were
not able to gather the kick off and OMTs had a line out on the Hitchin 22 from
which OMTs started a rolling maul and Hitchin were penalised for collapsing
the maul 5 metres out. The quickly taken
penalty resulted in another unconverted try for OMTs.
A few
minutes later another penalty against Hitchin resulted in OMTs crossing for a
converted try.
An
optimistic kick from OMTs was allowed to bounce by Hitchin ,and the OMTs winger
following up collected it and ran from 60 m to score under the posts for seven
points, and a lead of 29 -21
In the final
ten minutes Hitchin kept up the pressure on the OMTs line and from a ruck on
the line Will Evans darted over for another try, which went unconverted.
Hitchin kept
up the pressure on the OMTs line but could not overcome the stubborn defence
for a winning score.
Team Thomas Brown, Stephen Freeman, James Bolter, Ryan Arbon, Matthew Trussell, Samuel Underwood, Ruiri Shanahan, Armel Baufume, William Evans, Benjamin Wiggins, Greg Ranson, George Eaton, William Clifford, Adam Shaw, Elliot Gibson
Subs James Akrill, Jonathan Welsford, Carwyn Morgan
Scores T: William Evans (2), Greg Ranson (1), Stephen Freeman (1)
C: Benjamin Wiggins (3)
Player(s) of Match 1. James Bolter
The league: London 3 North West