This was the boy’s first game for 4 weeks and in hindsight probably explained some of the ‘rustiness’ in the breakdown area. The first 10 mins , although mainly Hitchin possession, they conceded too many turnovers. They did however secure a few penalties from offside infringements by Barnet. One of these was despatched to the Barnet 10m line for a Hitchin line out. Clean off the top ball, from the front no less, allowed the backs to run a miss and pivot to put Kieran away on the right wing who scored under the posts. Callum with the conversion. 7 -0
The early forwards exchanges were fairly even to start with and Barnet continued to nick a few turnovers (coach’s note – not good). Hitchin however raised the tempo and the continued quick ball (you know it makes sense) led to a series of gain line penalties. Heine took a quick tap and weasled his way to the try line. 12 - 0
Soon after the restart Hitchin were back in Barnet territory. A few surreal minutes passed as a maul was allowed to rumble around backwards and forwards eventually parking up around the Barnet 5mtr line. It was like that old fashioned rugby that your dad used to watch or, in Tim’s case, still plays. It must have exhausted our boys as after all the hard work they gave up the ball and Barnet had it set at the foot of a ruck. But then,....... some say he reads Mandarin poetry to the trees at the bottom of his garden and that he once constructed a 1:5 scale model of the Petronas Towers in the school toilets entirely out of Haribo sweets, all we know is, he is the Doogie, and like some fella called Billy from that 80’s rugby he counter rucked his way over the ball and secured possession. From the ensuing maul Josh ripped the ball and forced his way over for the third try. (much more rewarding than collecting balls on the wing, eh Josh?). Callum converted . 19-0
From the restart Hitchin won a further pen, but Callum did not find touch and a fine return kick from the Barnet right wing found touch on the Hitchin 22. Stefan took the line out and landed unopposed and was able to break free and charge toward the Barnet 22. In similar vein to the Jeffries incident Stefan was soon looking to off load but unlike Jeffries he found Callum T in support who scored in the corner. Coach Jim was disappointed in Stefan’s effort and felt he should have tried harder. 24 – 0
Another quick try followed as Hitchin nicked a line out and spun the ball wide, Edgar making impressive gains as he had done all game. From the tackle, a man who always puts it in, Callum T in support again collected and scored his second. Callum M converted. Half time score 31 – 0
Soon into the 2nd half and Hitchin were in control. Good restarts with Doogie feeding Callum T made good ground every time and from quick recycled ball and 3 or 4 phases Callum put through a perfectly weighted grubba for Kieran to run onto. The bounce was kind and Kieran scored. 36 – 0
It all started innocently enough. A penalty to Hitchin kicked by Callum aiming for the left touch line was followed by a series of unfortunate events.
Firstly the kick didn’t find touch, it bounced and bounced and bounced along the 5 mtr channel but refused to go in.
Secondly the Barnet centre, not a small lad, had chased back to retrieve the ball, he had covered a lot of ground.
Thirdly the Hitchin chase, which had started soon after the ball left Callum’s boot, was led by superfit Zander who felt a certain freedom to play in Billy’s absence and felt released to let his hair down and show us what he’s got. (I think he thought he was Billy). Zander chased from the right wing touchline across the entire pitch to the left wing (Billy’s position) and into the Barnet 22.
The Barnet guy gathered the ball as Zander rapidly closed in. He weighed up his options, Zander got closer, he steadied himself for the kick, Zander was now beyond the point of no return (honestly he was). The ball left the Barnet player’s boot and Zander met the player’s ‘open gait’ with his shoulder (before rapidly wrapping his arms around).
They always say the best tackle is to hit the opposition soft bits with your hard bits and Zander certainly did just that. As most of us watched the kick fly towards the Hitchin forwards the Barnet lad lay forlornly on the left touchline clutching his pride with that sickly feeling you get from a good smack in the gonads. Ladies you’ll never know, its worse than childbirth. The physio was despatched but there was a limit to the assistance she could offer. One wordly piece of advice from the touchline was ‘don’t rub them, count them’. Although this should have been aimed at the player!
Hitchin made a few changes with Aaron coming back on for Scott who had earlier replaced Aaron, I think. Stuart ‘Baby Braveheart’ Baird made his Colts debut in the second row replacing the Doogmeister.
The next 10 mins were a bit dull, we had had the lost ball incident, an impromptu on pitch enquiry by the ref with Jim and a feined wrist injury by Joe who spent the best part of 5 mins on his back holding his leg while his wrist was strapped!
From a clearance kick by Barnet ‘superhard’ Zander took a quick throw into Callum who stepped his way past a few to score under the posts and convert. 43 – 0
A further penalty soon after the restart gave Hitchin a line out on the Barnet 10mtr and good quick ball to Callum put Edgar in on an inside ball off his wing. Callum converted. 50 – 0
Following a bout of argy-bargy the ref called an early end to proceedings meaning we were in the bar 10 mins early.
MOTM ; Edgar.
Best hooker ; Callum .
Thanks to Christie at # 6 who had an excellent game.
Congrats to Stuart, did you start the fisticuffs?
Well played Aaron and Scott on their first games for Hitchin.
Team ; Josh, Callum, Chris, Doogie(Stuart), Aaron(Scott), Stefan, Adam, Christie, Heine, Callum, Tom, Joe, Zander, Edgar, Kieren.
Team Joshua Conley, Charlie Emmerson, Chris Thorpe, Joe Barnes, Adam Baird, Christie Gilmartin, Stefan Brand, Callum Taylor, Heinrich Schlehmeyer, Callum McRobbie, Alexander Szanto, Thomas Attwell, Joe Horder, Billy Vernon-Hamilton, Kieran Caldwell
Subs Edward Roberts, Steven Merritt, Edgar Weaver, Dominick Horn, James Tilley, James King, Tom Jeffries
Scores T: Callum Taylor (2), Kieran Caldwell (2), Joshua Conley (1), Heinrich Schlehmeyer (1), Callum McRobbie (1), Edgar Weaver (1)
C: Callum McRobbie (5)
League Tables