With two of the selected backs injured during the week, adding to the growing injury list, and with Adam Shaw & Dan Bendon picking up knocks and forced to leave the pitch during the game, the Hitchin back line lacked control and direction for much of the 80 minutes
Hitchin kicked off but were soon under pressure for several minutes, their defence holding out. Moving into St Albans territory, an overlap was ignored and the moment passed. The home side returned to the attack and 13 minutes in were awarded a penalty for offside, to take a three point lead
Hitchin struck back with a strong run into the St Albans 22 by skipper James Bolter but were twice held up over the line and, conceding a penalty, allowed St Albans to counter attack into the Hitchin 22,where their right winger was able to outstrip the defence to score under the posts to make the conversion a formality.
Hitchin’s Nick Panton was yellow carded just before half time but the ensuing penalty was missed.
Two minute into the second half St Albans made the most of their superior numbers and scored as they controlled a scrum and gained a pushover try for 5 points
Shortly after Hitchin were back in the St Albans half and a heel against the head allowed Bolter to pick up and go over for a try, converted by Ryan Arbon
The last quarter of the game saw the home side take advantage of Hitchin’s lack of organisation to run in two further unconverted tries to gain a bonus point and deservedly win the game 25 - 7
Team Sean McGinnity, Thomas Tidey, Barry Mellor, Ryan Arbon, Nick Panton, Samuel Underwood, Gary Ayres, James Bolter, Elliot Gibson, Adam Shaw, Richard Sinclair, Daniel Bendon, Harry Cartwright, Ryan Godfrey, Aiken Verschuur
Subs Duan Oosthuizen, Harry Elleston, Stuart West
Scores T: James Bolter (1)
C: Ryan Arbon (1)
Player(s) of Match 1. James Bolter
The league: London North West 3