Following last week’s narrow one point defeat at Cheshunt in the league, Hitchin turned the
tables on the visitors at Old Hale way , in the first round of the Herts President’s Tankard competition.
Cheshunt had the best of the difficult conditions in the
first half, and the home side suffered a blow when, after 10 minutes,
inspirational skipper James bolter left the field with a serious leg injury.
Cheshunt soon took advantage of their opponents’ problem, crossing in the left
hand corner for an unconverted try to take a 5 point lead
Battling against the
wind, Hitchin took advantage of a Cheshunt yellow card, and opened their account
after 30 minutes as debutant scrum half Will Evans touched down, following
pressure from his forwards on the visitors’ line
Hitchin enjoyed most of the possession for the rest of the
half, but could not earn any more points and turned round with the scores level,
but with the wind now assisting them
A try from lock Tom Spratt
in the first minute of the half put Hitchin in front
10-5. They continued to keep much
of the play in the Cheshunt half, but at the end of
the third quarter it was the visitors who broke away to score under the posts, converted
to give them a two point lead
The stronger Hitchin pack came back after just five minutes with
a push over try, credited to prop Stuart West, the conversion failing
Cheshunt got into the Hitchin 22 and were awarded a penalty,
but the kick to draw the scores level failed.
With the final whistle only minutes away, Hitchin were back
on the attack, and running the ball right to left across the Cheshunt 22 Evans
crossed for his second try , Ben Wiggins finding his kicking boots to add the
two points
An encouraging win for a young side (average age 23), missing
several regulars
Hitchin entertain St Albans RFC at Old Hale Way on Saturday in the league,
looking to reverse the defeat earlier in
the season.
Team James Bolter, Tom Ramsay, James Akrill, Thomas Spratt, Samuel Underwood, Joshua Page, Frederick Rooney, Ryan Arbon, William Evans, Ben Wiggins, Jack Powell, Alfie Burkett, Jack Peachey, William Rooney, Elliot Gibson
Subs Stuart West, Adam Shaw, Harry Elleston, Mark Tidey, Mark Hoffman
Scores T: William Evans (2), Stuart West (1), Thomas Spratt (1)
C: Ben Wiggins (1)
The league: London North West 3