Speedy McGinnity!
Roared on by a merry support following a VPs dinner, the Hedgehogs closed out the year with a third consecutive win.
THREE ON THE BOUNCE
Proceedings were balanced early on, Royston retaining the ball well but Hitchin returning with interest. An effort at goal from 40 metres was missed by Royston. Profitable forays from Winger Will Rooney and Full Back Will Evans were key in earning territory in the opposition 22, and it did not take long for the ball to be worked into space for Number 8 James Bolter to surge over the line, Fly Half Ben Wiggins expertly converting from the 5 metre line into a howling wind. Hitchin continued to play on the front foot, and Prop Sean McGinnity spotted a gap on the blindside of a ruck. Despite the best efforts of 5 covering defenders he was in unstoppable form, running a full 35 metres to score a marvellous individual try.
12-0 up after 25 minutes against winless opponents, the Hedgehogs were hopeful of a convincing bonus point victory. A resurgent Royston had other ideas, and they worked an overlap on the left wing to reduce the deficit to 7 points at half time.
Playing with a renewed belief, Royston continued to play to their plan against the wind in the second half. Strong strike runners earned space for a deep lying back line, and the forwards continue to earn territory around the ruck. A scrum 5 metres from the line was awarded, and on the first occasion of illegal scrummaging, a penalty try was awarded, levelling the scores at 12-12.
The match was in the balance, but Hitchin fought against the momentum and began to turn the screw. From a scrum penalty awarded centrally 30 metres out, Wiggins reliable right boot put Hitchin back in the lead. A high tackle reduced Royston to 14, and Wiggins punished them further with a 50 metre kick to touch, however the lineout failed to retain possession. Nevertheless, an increasingly dominant scrum earned another penalty, and Royston were reduced to 13 for illegal scrummaging. After several failed attempts to batter our way over the line, Lock Matt Trussell extended his mighty frame to cross the whitewash to put Hitchin's lead to 2 scores with 5 minutes to play.
Despite the numerical advantage, a visibly rattled Hitchin failed to earn the bonus point try, losing the lineout when in an ominous position. A bizarre end to the game saw territory change hands 4 times after final play had been called, before Hitchin were finally tackled into touch.
The Hedgehogs had been thoroughly examined by their visitors, but displayed resilience and determination in rising to the challenge to
earn the all important win. At the halfway mark, Hitchin sit in 9th spot, 8 points clear of the relegation places and 4 points behind sixth placed Old Merchant Taylors.
Team Thomas Brown, Stephen Freeman, Sean McGinnity, Jonathan Welsford, Matthew Trussell, George Eaton, Samuel Thompson, James Bolter, Elliot Gibson, Benjamin Wiggins, William Evans, Ruiri Shanahan, Carwyn Morgan, William Rooney, Jonathan Whitby
Subs James Akrill, Dominic Baber-Norris, Daniel Barnes
Scores T: Sean McGinnity (1), Matthew Trussell (1), James Bolter (1)
C: Benjamin Wiggins (1)
P: Benjamin Wiggins (1)
The league: London 3 North West