Hitchin 55-29 Epping Upper Clapton
Hitchin hosted Epping Upper Clapton in round 1 of the Papa John's Men's Community Cup Counties 1 South Plate. Familiar opponents at 2XV level, this was the first time in 23 years the two sides met at 1XV level.
The Hedgehogs started poorly, conceding a penalty for offside within a minute which EUC turned into 3 points.
After a few phases on the Epping 5 metre line, Fly Half Ben Wiggins changed direction and hit a gap around the ruck and stretched out an arm to score.
From a midfield scrum Epping executed a loop play, the 10 outstripping the defence and stepping the Full Back for a great individual effort.
Club Captain James Bolter collected from a maul and powered over from 10 metres out.
Centre Simon Taylor engaged the EUC defence and offloaded out of a tackle to Winger Phill Ryan to score Hitchin's third try.
The fourth try came shortly after 20 minutes. Wiggins found Hooker James Hunt in acres of space, who fed Winger Will Rooney to plunge over on the left edge.
EUC received 3 overlapping yellow cards, and Hitchin exposed this numerical advantage to extend their lead, Ryan putting in Centre Ian Crompton to touch down. Halftime score Hitchin 27-10 EUC.
An excellent kick off by Wiggins put EUC under immediate pressure, and one phase later Wiggins found Will Rooney off his blindside wing to score under the sticks.
Another mismatch put Bolter and then Gibson in space, who offloaded to Flanker Louix West to score his first 1XV try.
From a midfield scrum, Taylor found Crompton at full steam, and he beat the full back and covering defence to score his second.
With the win secured after 50 minutes, Hitchin disappointingly lost focus, and conceded three tries in the next 25 minutes.
Bolter had the final say as he picked up from the base of the ruck and surged over from 5 metres.
Attention now switches to the President's Cup final versus Hemel Hempstead this Thursday at Cheshunt.
James Akrill, James Hunt, Jonny Robertson, Jonathan Welsford, Nick Panton, Louix West, Frederick Rooney, James Bolter, Daniel Wiggins, Benjamin Wiggins, William Rooney, Simon Taylor, Ian Crompton, Elliot Gibson, Phillip Ryan
Subs Adam Shaw, Jack Sibley, Oliver Stringer
Scores T: William Rooney (2), Ian Crompton (2), James Bolter (2), Louix West (1), Benjamin Wiggins (1), Phillip Ryan (1)
C: Benjamin Wiggins (5)
The league: Counties 1 Herts/Middx