Hitchin 29-14 Chiswick
Hitchin welcomed Chiswick to the KGV playing field in their final fixture of the 2023/24 campaign.
The hosts kicked off playing into strong winds and managed to force a penalty in the opposition half in the first play of the game. However, were unable to capitalise on the field position advantage as the visitors claimed a penalty and cleared their lines. The teams were evenly matched for first 20 minutes or so of the match, with neither team managing to make any defining breaks. It was the visitors who broke the dead lock with their number six claiming a fumbled Hitchin pass and managing to sprint 50 or so metres to score a converted try under the posts.
Hitchin however struck back shortly after with some good passing between forwards and back down the left flank leading to a Simon Taylor try under the posts a few phases later. The extras added by fly half Pete Stanbury. The final score of the half was scored by Hitchin’s Hooker Ewan Rawlings. Finishing off a break by Jack Maydom and dotting down in the corner to take the half time score to 12-7.
Hitchin kicked off the second half and looked to use the wind advantage and play as much rugby as possibly in the opposition half. Hitchin gained a penalty and kicked to the corner, setting up a maul from the resulting lineout. They were bought down short of the line when breaking from the maul but from the resulting ruck the ball was passed wide to Frazer McGown who crossed the line unopposed to score the third try of the day, conversion missed. The bonus point try came from another Hitchin lineout on the Chiswick 22m line. The lineout ball tapped back on the Chiswick side but was pounced on by prop James Bolter who evaded a couple of Chiswick defenders to score, converted by Pete Stanbury. Hitchin’s final score of the league season came courtesy of a weaving run by returning full back Will Evans taking Hitchin’s tally for the day to 29 points, the conversion missed. Chiswick got a final consolation try in the last play of the game, their speeding winger breaking down the right wing for a converted score, taking the final score to 29-14.
Team Jonny Robertson, Ewan Rawlings, James Bolter, Chris Mills, Jonathan Welsford, Ruiri Shanahan, Gary Ayres, Frazer McGown, Max Jarmain, Peter Stanbury, Greg Ranson, Simon Taylor, Daniel Barnes, Jack Maydom, Will Evans
Subs David Hallendorff, Thomas Brown, Oscar Norton-Taylor, Gavin McLeod
Scores 
The league: Counties 1 Herts/Middx