Hitchin 30-25 Datchworth
Hitchin hosted their first league match of the season against local rivals Datchworth.
The Hedgehogs made the perfect start, capitalising on an offload, Flanker Callum Cload exchanging passes with Number 8 Frazer McGown for Cload to score after 3 minutes.
Hitchin failed to exit from the resultant kick off, and Datchworth punished this with a close range effort from a quick tap penalty to draw level.
Hitchin's defence was found wanting once more as Datchworth exploited the right edge and broke the covering tackle to score the visitors' second try.
A penalty was awarded in front of the sticks, and Fly Half Harry Chater kicked the 3 points to get some rhythm back for Hitchin. This tactic paid dividends - after a strong carry from Centre Jaden Elley-Murphy drew in defenders on the right side, Hitchin found space on the left and McGown bounced off a covering defender to touch down.
Another Hitchin failure to successfully exit from the kick off drew a penalty, which Datchworth kicked to take a 15-13 lead.
Datchworth were the more threatening side for the next 10 minutes, and got their reward with a try in the left corner.
Cload and McGown narrowly failed to link up again, but Datchworth were forced back over their own line to concede a 5 metre scrum. On the third phase, Captain James Bolter crossed the whitewash.
Following a Hitchin sinbin, a final play effort for Datchworth came to nought with a knock on, and both sides took the halftime break with the score 20-18 in favour of the men in green.
Hitchin slowly turned the screw and earned a penalty which was kicked to touch on 50 minutes. The maul made progress and Chater found McGown with a miss pass to score in the right corner.
It felt like the next score would determine the outcome of the match, and Hitchin made that crucial score with 10 minutes to play. Bolter slipped through a tackle around the finger of the ruck and offloaded to Winger Xander Szanto to finish. Winger Greg Ranson converted to give Hitchin a 10 point lead.
Datchworth pressed, and Bolter made a crucial tackle into touch when they were set to score. The pressure eventually told and Datchworth Winger Logan Armstrong, impressive throughout, scored in the right corner.
A dramatic finish ensued, with a Hitchin yellow card for a high tackle and the resultant penalty kicked to a 5 metre lineout. Hitchin held firm and countered the maul and, with the ball unplayable, the final whistle was blown.
Hitchin have work to do on the training ground, but a 5 point victory means we climb to 4th in the fledgling Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex table. Next week the Hedgehogs travel to Finchley.
The second team travelled to Cheshunt and were soundly beaten 55-20, but have some positives to take with a dominant scrum and some positive play in the 2nd half. Next week we make the short trip to Weston.
Team James Akrill, Gary Ayres, James Bolter, Louix West, Samuel Underwood, Adam Baird, Callum Cload, Frazer McGown, Elliot Gibson, Harry Chater, Xander Szanto, Simon Taylor, Jaden Elley-Murphy, Ryan Fields, Phillip Ryan
Subs Ewan Rawlings, Daniel Wiggins, Greg Ranson, Gavin McLeod, Ian Crompton
Scores T: Frazer McGown (2), Xander Szanto (1), James Bolter (1), Callum Cload (1)
C: Greg Ranson (1)
P: Harry Chater (1)
The league: Counties 1 Herts/Middx