Cup Defeat, but lots to be pleased about..

If possession and territory counted for points then we would have been out of sight of Hitchin, but as we know they don’t count, and it was a case of everything but the scores….

Pretty much a full strength squad were available for this match, and the starting 15 set off with grim determination, after the previous lack lustre performances. This was to be game where we dominated for large periods through a combination of strong forward play, supported by some penetrating backs running, however for all the effort we were unable to breach a very well marshalled defence line of Hitchin until the very last play of the game.

There was a lot of strong early exchanges, with both sides making big inroads, and big hits being made to stop attacks. With our tactical kicking, and strong ruck play driving us into Hitchin’s 22 on many occasions, the final pass was the only thing that let us down. Hitchin were able to capitalise early in the first half and moved the ball wide where they were able to breach the white line and open the scoring. Unlike the previous game we came back hard and fast, and kept possession well both in the backs and in the pack, and the team spirit was high despite being behind. On a different day our play would have yielded an equalising score, but a couple of knock ons at the wrong moment, and some spirited defence and counter attacking from Hitchin kept the scoreline 5-0 at half time.

2nd half brought a few changes in the pack and the backs, but these didn’t disrupt the momentum that we had and once again through dominance in the scrum and the loose we began to look threatening. An equaliser was surely coming, and for one moment when some great line breaks by the backs put Alex within a sniff of the line he was bundled into touch before he could ground the ball. Such was the determination of Hitchin not to concede, there was 3 players who took Alex into touch, and that moment was to be defining in the overall context of the game.

Hitchin sealed the win against the run of play when they were able to finally apply some consistent pressure on our defence and were able, through a number of phases, to create an overlap thus enabling them score in the corner.

But the team's never-say-die attitude was finally rewarded when, after a couple of penalties gave us good position, our forwards were able to draw in a number of Hitchin defenders, thus enabling Alex to breach the defence and offload to Aiden who flew over in the corner to bring the score line back to 10-5.

Overall it was a well played game by both teams and it bodes well for the league match that we have with them later on in the season. All the lads played well, kept heads up and did everything but score..

Onwards and upwards for the remaining league games!!
Written by Rob Hirst