Streets' full back stopped in flight
Hitchin came up short against undefeated league leaders Old Streetonians, playing with depleted numbers for some 50 minutes.
The match started positively for the Hedgehogs, with centres Jon Whitby and debutant Glynn Hughes finding gaps against a narrow Streets defence. The visitors were playing with a lot of confidence, and we're assured in possession, but the Hitchin defence continues to look stronger week on week, and squeezed the opposition out of play on a number of occasions. Indiscipline proved Hitchin's undoing, Streets kicking two penalties, and another offence around the half hour mark resulted in a yellow card for Scrum Half Elliot Gibson, a straightforward kick extending the lead to 9.
The match turned when the red card was shown to Ryan Arbon for alleged foul play, reducing the hosts to 13. Streets eventually breached the Hitchin line during this period, working the inevitable overlap to score in the corner. Halftime score Hitchin 0-16 Old Streets.
Hitchin acquitted themselves well with 14 men, but Streets were used to playing on the front foot and their well drilled pack were starting to get the edge in the scrum. Playing on the front foot and with a man advantage, their backs produced a set play which found space to score another out wide. The Hedgehogs gritted their teeth and exerted sustained pressure on the try line. The ball was turned over, but the attempted clearance was chased down by full back Will Evans, the ball falling right in front of him to score Hitchin's opening try, converted by Fly Half Ben Wiggins.
This score did not deter the visitors, and from an attacking set piece and two subsequent surges, the scrum half dotted over under the posts. The balance of play was now in Streets favour, and they added the bonus point try after working an overlap out wide.
This was not a match that would define Hitchin's season, and there were positives to take from the performance, but there will be plenty to work on ahead of our trip to Kilburn Cosmos next Saturday.
Team Stephen Freeman, Thomas Tidey, James Akrill, Ryan Arbon, Jonathan Welsford, George Eaton, Samuel Underwood, Anthony Williams, Elliot Gibson, Benjamin Wiggins, Greg Ranson, Glynn Hughes, Jonathan Whitby, Ross Howard, William Evans
Subs Matthew Hawtin, Iain Charnley, Daniel Barnes
Scores T: William Evans (1)
C: Benjamin Wiggins (1)
The league: London 3 North West