Hitchin Academy 20 Ealing Trailfinders Academy 17
Tries: Ellis Lockyer, Dan Wiggins, Will Smith, Simon Taylor
Hitchin RFC Academy get off to a winning start against Ealing Trailfinders RFC
in a friendly match at King Georges Playing Field last Sunday. The Academy side
is made up of players from under 17’s and under 18’s from the North Herts area.
It was tough assignment against First Division opponents, many of whom played in
the Ealing Under 16’s Champions side last year.
Ealing’s superior power and size saw them get off to a strong start, after 20
minutes they were 17-0 up having scored 2 tries from pick and drives close to
the Hitchin line and another fine try when they moved the ball wide across their
backs for touch down in the corner.
It was looking ominous for Hitchin, but they kept at it and managed to keep
Ealing out for the rest of the half.
Hitchin came roaring back straight from the second half restart to surprise
Ealing with their ferocity and spirit, the large crowd got behind the team and
the young Hitchin squad responded with 4 unanswered tries from Ellis Lockyer,
Dan Wiggins, debut boy Will Smith and finally with a minute left to play great
approach work saw Simon Taylor escape his man to touch down and finish of an
unlikely but thoroughly deserved win. Final score Hitchin 20 Ealing Trailfinders
17.
Men of the match: Tim admitted great difficulty on this one as all 27 players on
duty contributed to a fantastic result, in the end debut boy Will Smith from the
forwards and Simon Taylor from the backs got the deserved accolade.
More notes:
OUR PITCH, OUR GAME, OUR WIN - Thank you Bailey Burton for his call with 10 minutes left
A brilliant fight back showing skill, determination and superior fitness. Ealing
are a very big well organised club and it was very big well organised squad they
put out. I don’t think we will play against many other packs that size, despite
them getting the nudge at most scrums the pack somehow locked out and allowed
Dan Wiggins (who had a superb game) to get the ball away. Ellis Lockyer played
a blinder in the tight and in the loose and set us back in the game with the
first try. A brilliant debut from Will Smith, he doesn’t know the meaning fear!
Thinking about it afterwards the new scrum laws (you know the one about putting
the ball in straight!) helped today as both our hookers, William Hurry and Peter Stanbury,
actually strike for it. They both did very well against the big units from
Ealing
The Squad made the coaches, parents and fantastic club crowd very proud. It was
great to see the younger teams staying to support as well. This is stuff that
makes us a great club to be part of no matter what age group.
We had 27 players available, all got good game time and all contributed to the fine performance.
I have already mentioned Will Smith. Another welcome to Jak Leggetter on his
debut. Good to see Callum Higgins back in a Hitchin shirt after a year of injury
and Brandon Whates for upsetting his mums plans by insisting on playing after a month
of niggling injuries. Perhaps my favourite story is welcoming back the
McCrakens. Lewis played for Ampthill from 13’s to16’s . They have won everything
locally and nationally in their age groups, we don’t think they have lost a game
since they were 6. He has come back to us because he wants enjoy his rugby
again.
On another positive note, we still have much to work on in training. Positive
because to perform like that and seek to improve is what its all about.
Team Peter Hardy, William Hurry, Matthew Christey-Reid, Tom Brennan, Erik Spiro-Larrea, Adrian Haye, Henry Walsh, Jack Burgess, Matthew Kerr, Mitchell Ryan, Euan Dickson-Earle, Robinson Anthonyvincent, Nathan Defraine
Scores