Hitchin had to reshuffle the squad before kick off, with centre Jon Whitby injured in the
warm up , and prop Sean McGinnity not
making full fitness
The loss of
their inspirational skipper James Bolter before half time, did not do the team
any favours, as they struggled to match the previous week’s performance
Kilburn
kicked off, and after 10 minutes some good handling by their backs saw them run
in from outside the Hitchin 22, to score a converted try in the left hand
corner, Hitchin’s drift defence not operating in this instance
Pressure
from the Hitchin forwards in the Kilburn 22 led to a penalty, successfully
converted by Jack Peachey
After 30
minutes, with Hitchin back on the attack, the forwards took the ball to the
line for Joe Barnes to touch down for Peachey to add the points
and give them a 5 point advantage
But within minutes
the visitors had broken through to run the ball in under the posts for 7 points
As Kilburn
continued to keep possession, Bolter was injured, to take no further part in
the game, and as Hitchin regrouped the visitors ran in a third try .To add to
their problems, Hitchin’s Dale Baines was yellow carded, and just before
half time Kilburn added a penalty to lead 22 -10
With play
resuming, Kilburn got to the Hitchin 22,
but were penalised allowing Hitchin to
clear to touch in the opposition’s 22
with a chance open the second half scoring, but were themselves penalised and lost ground.
Both sides
sought to play open rugby, with Hitchin looking at least for a losing bonus
point, but the chance was snatched from them, as after 30 minutes the visitors scored their fourth try, as their flanker
broke through several tackles to score
under the posts to get their own bonus point, leading 29 -10
Joshua Page
opened his try account to touch down before the final whistle, for Peachey to
convert to close the gap to 12 points
Lock Nick Panton was Hitchin's player of the match
To read The Comet's coverage of this game click here
Hitchin entertain
Datchworth in a local derby on Saturday
Team James Akrill, Thomas Tidey, James Bolter, Max Stallard, Nick Panton, Lewis Pettinger, Joe Barnes, Anthony Williams, Rhys Gregory, Jack Peachey, Charles Wood-Jones, Carwyn Morgan, Dale Baines, Harry Cartwright, Elliot Gibson
Subs Joshua Page, Samuel Underwood
Scores T: Joe Barnes (1), Joshua Page (1) C: Jack Peachey (2) P: Jack Peachey (1)
Player(s) of Match 1. Nick Panton The league: London North West 3