HEDGEHOGS DECIMATE ROYSTON 61-10.
By Georges Le Macon.
This Saturday saw far more agreeable conditions for the game we love so much; a breath of fresh air compared to the previous week’s battle in the bog. The improved conditions gave Hitchin 1st XV the opportunity to stretch their legs, running up and down the Heath at Royston rugby club for a sizeable 61-10 victory.
Despite the match’s slow start, there was one important lesson Royston should have taken from Hitchin’s win over Finsbury Park last weekend. That being, Ian Crompton has a try-scoring compulsion and the constant requirement to make opposition defence look so very silly. Helping himself to 4 across the match. Ben Wiggins successfully converted his first two and was a sign of things to come in the second half. Half-time score 14-3.
It took Adam Baird only minutes to open the floodgates with a try off the back of a powerful charge from Wiggins. Royston got a try of their own next off a Hitchin error at the back of the scrum, but it wasn’t long before order was restored. Crompton getting his 3rd try of the afternoon via a wild offload from Frederick Rooney. He crashed through tackles in a similar vein to his second try against Finsbury Park, making the Royston players dissolve into flakes of polystyrene. Crompton then made it 4 off an inside ball from Adam Shaw, going over untouched.
Inspired by Crompton’s breaches of the Royston defence, Jimmy McCormack picked his moment off a Hitchin scrum to dive over for the next try. Frazer McGown found himself with the ball in the backline and acres of space between defenders for an easy stroll to the try line. Lewis Montague followed, snipping around the breakdown. Then lastly Frederick Rooney finished off the scoring after moving from the flank to inside centre, chasing and gathering Ben Wiggins’ kick through to dash over the try line at the death, 61-10.
Hitchin continued their unbeaten streak, bringing the tally to 5 wins in 2022 and will set out to avenge their first defeat of the season against Hendon RFC this weekend. They will do so from the top of the table, with a game in hand against their next opponents.
Tries - Ian Crompton (4), Adam Baird, Jimmy McCormack, Frazer McGown, Lewis Montague, Fred Rooney
Conversions - Ben Wiggins (8)
Team - Arron Aatkar, Adam Baird, James Bolter, Thomas Brown, Ian Crompton, Bertrand Debeuf, James McCormack, CAPTAIN Sean McGinnity, Frazer McGown, Lewis Montague, Greg Ranson, Frederick Rooney, Phillip Ryan, Adam Shaw, Harry Trowsdale, Matthew Trussell, Samuel Underwood, Benjamin Wiggins.
Team Thomas Brown, James Bolter, Harry Trowsdale, Lewis Montague, Samuel Underwood, Frazer McGown, Frederick Rooney, Adam Baird, James McCormack, Adam Shaw, Greg Ranson, Benjamin Wiggins, Ian Crompton, Bertrand Debeuf, Phillip Ryan
Scores T: Ian Crompton (4), Adam Baird (1), Lewis Montague (1), Frazer McGown (1), Frederick Rooney (1), James McCormack (1)
C: Benjamin Wiggins (8)
Player(s) of Match 1. Ian Crompton, 2. Phillip Ryan, 3. Samuel Underwood
The league: London 3 North West