On a bright day in Cheshunt, Hitchin won the toss and used the slope to their advantage, surprising the hosts and playing uphill for the first half.
Cheshunt did strike first, through a penalty early on for offside. After this it was one way traffic for Hitchin, playing most of the first half in Cheshunt’s 22. A missed penalty from Mike Wilkins could have levelled the scores, however soon after Pearce McGinnity was crossing the whitewash to put Hitchin’s noses in front, with Wilkins pushing the conversion wide.
Hitchin were then reduced to 14 men, with Tommy Moore being sin binned for a high tackle, and at the same time losing Pearce McGinnity for ten minutes for a blood replacement. Hitchin then soaked up the Cheshunt attack, not allowing them to use the numerical advantage.
Just before half time, and with a full team back on the pitch, Adam Naylor was held up not once, but twice over the line in quick succession, and just couldn’t bury his way down to put the ball down. Pearce McGinnity almost put Hitchin even further in front, however his surprising drop goal attempt hit the post. Again Hitchin used the slope, attacking the blind side up the hill, and not to be outdone by Pearce, Sean McGinnity crashed his way over in the corner, taking his the ball, and three of Cheshunt’s back line over the try line with him. Naylor putting the conversion right between the posts from out wide to make it 12-3 at half time.
After some positive words at half time from Marcus Moore, who was unavailable to play through injury, Hitchin came out and picked up where they left off, setting up camp in Cheshunt’s 22. It took ten minutes for Hitchin to register another try, after a quick tap penalty from Naylor, feeding Wilkins on the charge, some quick ball out wide fed Michael Painter who somehow managed to break through the resilient Cheshunt defence. Naylor again slotted over the conversion.
With the game having to go to uncontested scrums due to injury to the Cheshunt props, this proved to level up the game somewhat, as Hitchin’s forwards were winning everything, turning over a majority of scrums and retaining possession. Naylor used the slope again to Hitchin’s advantage, with a near perfect kicking game, put Hitchin back in to Cheshunt’s 22. The forwards then used they guile to put Aaron Johnson over right in the corner to put Hitchin even further in front with an unconverted try.
With 20 minutes to go, Hitchin welcomed back Nick Chirgwin on to the pitch, however he soon said goodbye for ten minutes after being sin binned for a ‘cheap shot’ on his own Captain!!
The handbags came out with ten minutes to go, after Cheshunt produced an unconverted try which wouldn’t have looked out of place in the national leagues, the game turned in to a scuffle.
After the restart, Hitchin closed out the game, without being dragged in to another scuffle, to win the game 24-8. Overall a great performance from the entire team, with a big mention to go to Max Weatherhead and Jamie King, who really showed why they are highly thought of at Hitchin Rugby Club.
Team Christopher Pike, Tommy Moore, Sean McGinnity, Kieran Barringer, Philip Hobbs, Paul Vidler, Pearce McGinnity, Matthew Dyer, Steve Merritt, Michael Wilkins, Matthew Lippard, Adam Naylor, Michael Painter, Max Weatherhead, James King
Subs Deon Marevich, Nick Chirgwin, Aaron Johnson
Scores T: Sean McGinnity (1), Michael Painter (1), Pearce McGinnity (1), Aaron Johnson (1)
C: Adam Naylor (2)
Player(s) of Match 1. Pearce McGinnity, 2. James King, 3. Michael Wilkins
League Tables