U15A Match Report: Sunday 11th November 2012
Hitchin A (24) vs Stockwood Park (14)
Tries (4): Sam J (1), Max (1), Olli P (1), Benji (1)
Cons (2): Max (2)
Squad: Ashley, Benji, Dan B, Dan C, Frazer, Harry E, Jack, Joe, Jordan, Max, Ollie M, Ollie P, Saiful, Sam J, Tom B, Will
A crisp, sunny Remembrance Sunday morning finds us hosting Stockwood Park on the first team pitch at George V. With kick-off set just after 11:00am, both teams stand shoulder-to-shoulder in silence as lone bugler, David Bourne, sounds out ‘The Last Post’ in memory of the millions lost in the Great War and subsequently. Silence descends across George V as David sounds his last note…
Stockwood kick-off the first half with deep kick into our side. A quick series of rucks and passes allows us to make steady progress into Stockwood’s half. Jordan gets a break and runs to try with Benji shadowing but our first try attempt is held up – forcing a 5m scrum. Stockwood win the ball and clear into our half, but full-back Max catches and runs it back to within 10m of their try line. Continuous Hitchin pressure keeps the ball there with several good attempts at try repelled by a tough Stockwood defence. Finally Dan C gets a chance to kick forward giving us a lineout barely 2m shy of the try line. A non-straight throw wins us a scrum in front of the posts. Jack steals the ball from the back of the scrum but it’s Sam that carries it over the try line to secure our first try. Max converts successfully bringing the opening score to 7-0. Stockwood restart with a short kick that runs into touch giving us a scrum restart in the centre. Stockwood secure the ball and their large winger makes good ground before our defence stop him mid-way. We clear the ball back into Stockwood’s half. Max and Tom chase the ball down the wing making good ground with Max ultimately getting the try and finishing it with a second conversion giving us a 14-0 lead. Stockwood restart with a short kick but the ball is soon kicked back into their half. This time Tom makes a great run down the outside wing but it’s Olli P that finishes with our third try. Max narrowly misses the conversion leaving the half-time score at 19-0.
Hitchin kick-off the second half with a deep kick into Stockwood’s territory. A succession of high tackles forces penalties on both sides with warnings from the ref. Sadly the next high tackle earns Harry a yellow card leaving us to play with only 14 players for the next 10 mins. With a weakened Hitchin side, Stockwood get their chance to break through scoring their first try near the centre of our posts. A quick conversion in front of the posts secures them 7 points. Hitchin restart with a deep kick that’s cleared by Stockwood into touch. Stockwood secure the ball from the line-out and pass out to their fast winger who outpaces all our defence running across two-thirds of the pitch to score Stockwood’s second try in the centre of our posts. An easy conversion brings their score tantalisingly close at 19-14. Harry’s back on the pitch as we restart with low ground-skimming kick. Stockwood’s fast winger attempts a few penetrating runs but he’s heavily marked now and makes little ground. Both teams battle hard in the closing minutes of the game with the ball flying up and down the pitch as we kick for territory. Finally a penalty to Hitchin earns us a chance to kick to touch close to Stockwood’s try line and Dan C’s accurate kick doesn’t disappoint. We secure the corresponding lineout and drive hard to 5m. A penalty gives us a chance for a prop run at try but Stockwood’s defence holds tight. Finally we secure a scrum just 5m in front of Stockwood’s posts and this time it’s fly-half Benji that makes it over the try line to score our final try. A drop-kick conversion misses – but it’s all academic as the final whistle blows on a 24-14 victory to Hitchin.
A fast-moving, excellent game against a strong side but we controlled the game well, making full use of the large first XV pitch to make good ground. A stunning, nail-biting game to watch from the side and a well-deserved man-o’-the-match award to all 16 players who gave their best performance yet of the season!