Visitors Farnham , having only lost one game this season , were high in spirit and confidence , and took advantage in the second half of the injury hit Hitchin side, who only too quickly had used their bench to cover injuries sustained in the first half.
Hitchin kicked off into a stiff breeze, but the visitors were soon back in Hitchin territory with a lineout on the 10 m line .The defence held out and after just 5 minutes winger Antoine Oget, making his 1XV debut , received the ball in the Hitchin half and with pace and guile cut through the defence to coast in under the posts, for Adam Shaw to convert
15 minutes into the half Farnham converted a penalty from 35 m to narrow the gap, ad soon after their captain broke through to score a converted try to take the lead
More pressure from the visitors in the second quarter of the game led to the first of three tries from their flanker, this not converted
Despite losing key players to injury, Hitchin were putting in a spirited performance, and with play back in the visitors’ 22, Vinnie Kevans crossed for a try in the corner , to bring the score back to 12 – 15
But the Farnham team are full of confidence and cross for a further try, with Hitchin lock Ryan Arbon receiving a yellow card for a lineout infringement. As half time approaches, the impressive Farnham number 8 finds space and sets up a try for his flanker, to take a half time lead by 12 - 27
The visitors are now playing into the wind, but after 10 minutes a Hitchin penalty kick fails to find touch and gifts a try to Farnham, as the flankers combine to run in for 7 points
Unable to bring on any further subs, the Hitchin players are tiring under the constant pressure, and finding it difficult break out of their half. Despite heroic efforts, they are unable to rebuff a rampant Farnham side brimming with confidence , who run in 3 more tries before a long second half is brought to an end
Team Sean McGinnity, Thomas Tidey, James Bolter, Ryan Arbon, Samuel Underwood, Daniel Holland, Joshua Page, Anthony Williams, Rhys Gregory, Adam Shaw, Ryan Godfrey, Harry Cartwright, Vincent Kevans, Antoine Oget, Aiken Verschuur
Subs Philip Hobbs, James Atkins, Alfie Burkett, Duan Oosthuizen
Scores T: Vincent Kevans (1), Antoine Oget (1)
C: Adam Shaw (1)
Player(s) of Match 1. Harry Cartwright, 2. James Bolter
The league: London North West 3