Ruiri Shanahan runs in a try
The Hedgehogs share top spot with Finsbury Park after their 6 try win over UCS Old Boys at Old Hale Way on Saturday
UCSOB kicked off and went ahead after a few minutes, when a penalty for a scrum offence was advanced 10m for dissent making the kick a formality
Hitchin re-started and UCS carried over their line to touch down giving Hitchin a 5 m scrum, from which No 8 Armel Baufume picked up and went over for an unconverted try.
A scrum 10m out from the Old Boys line gave possession to Hitchin who ran the ball along the backs for centre Eric Hall to break through and score under the posts to make the conversion an easy kick for flyhalf Ben Wiggins.
Just before the end of the half a good kick by Hitchin was regathered and fed to Stuart West who powered over from 10 metres, Wiggins adding the extras. 19-3 to the home side at the break.
A good run by the Hitchin forwards early in the second half ended with a penalty against the Old Boys ,which was kicked long for a line out. From the resulting lineout Hitchin got a rolling maul going which ended with captain Tom Tidey dotting down for an unconverted bonus point try.
With their forwards returned to full strength following a yellow card, Hitchin continued the pressure, and a Hitchin penalty was kicked for a lineout just outside the Old Boys 22. The rolling maul which they set up saw Ruiri Shanahan break free to cross for a try converted by Wiggins.
Shanahan was shortly back on the score board when a quickly taken penalty resulted in him going over the line for another try, converted by Wiggins.
Whilst the Hitchin pack did not enjoy its usual dominance- not helped by losing James Bolter early in the first half- they were edging the scrums and providing good ball for the backs. Better use of the ball might well l have resulted
In even more tries, and this needs to be addressed in the match at 3rd placed Wasps RFC next Saturday
Team Sean McGinnity, Tom Tidey, James Bolter, Ryan Arbon, Matt Trussell, Frederick Rooney, Ruiri Shanahan, Armel Baufume, Daniel Wiggins, Ben Wiggins, William Rooney, Jon Whitby, Eric Hall, Chris Martin, Alistair Southward
Subs Dale Baines, Stuart West, Carwyn Morgan, Mark Tidey
Scores T: Ruiri Shanahan (2), Tom Tidey (1), Armel Baufume (1), Eric Hall (1), Stuart West (1)
C: Ben Wiggins (4)
Player(s) of Match 1. Ruiri Shanahan
The league: Herts/Middlesex 1