Hitchin 34 v Twickenham 23
On a clear fresh Sunday morning (blowing a gale right to left) the academy team had their third Match, this time against Twickenham (TWK). An academy side containing U16/17 and U18's turned up with their heads switched on.
Twickenham kicked off and the captain caught the ball, drove forward to set up a ruck to which the ball was quickly passed down the line before finally Hitchin knocked the ball fwd inside TWK’s 22. Scrum down, TWK’s put in but Hitchin turn it over and with some fancy foot work and passing by the backs, Ruiri (playing at scrum half) takes the ball over the line for Hitchin’s first Try. Unfortunately the conversion was pushed left of the posts but the score line was 5 – 0.
Hitchin were pumped up and continued with progressive play. For the majority of the first half the team played effectively and with passion, moving the ball, wining ruck’s and mauls and generally playing very well together. Both Matt and Afo both scored terrific tries which were both converted by Kyle making the score 17 – 0. Afo made a brilliant run down the wing only to knock the ball out of play, but Hitchin were on a high and when Twickenham went to kick the ball out of their 22 Ewan caught the ball, side stepped two players and scored a fantastic try 22.0. Twickenham got the bit between their teeth and move the ball forward pushing hard, Hitchin were penalised for hands in the ruck just inside their 22 (rightly so as we could all see it from the side line!) Twickenham won a penalty and went on to win a try but failed to convert the ball which made the score 22 – 5 at half time.
Hitchin switched the players around to give everybody a chance of play although the Twickenham coach obviously had stern words with his players as in the second half Twickenham team really switched on and Hitchin appeared to switch off! Although that shouldn’t take away the fact that the boys were trying very hard and Kyle won a good try between the posts which he converted making the score 29 - 5. Twickenhambounced back with a number of successive tries which caused a bit of red mist in the team and our scrum half was yellow carded for a late tackle, Twickenham also had a player sent off from reacting to a good tackle but then reacted to the yellow card and was subsequently red carded by the ref. At one point the score line was 29 – 23 and things were getting tight. However, the scrum half returned and though guts and determination along with a great bit of set play, the Hitchin team switched on and Afo scored another magnificent try to make the final score 34 -23.
The forwards and backs played well together big well done to all the players and MOM went to Adrian, overall it was a very good performance and exciting match to watch. It just goes to show that with the team fitness level and successful coaching, is starting to reap rewards.
Scores