Hitchin 2nd Team ‘Hogging’ the Limelight
A gritty and determined Hitchin 2nd team travelled to Barnet with a mountain of a challenge to overcome. Arriving with no substitutes and lacking a front row, apart from Tom Tidey, the Hedgehogs felt a long way from home. As usual Barnet’s pitch was in a terrible state making it hard to see the markings. Fortunately for the Hogs this game was the debut of three new energetic members to the team, Kevin Lok (winger), Deon Marvitch (front row) and Colin Nation (winger), bringing fresh movement and enthusiasm.
The first half saw Hitchin camped in their own half of the pitch which demanded great defending around the rucks and mauls to push Barnet back. Good line out balls from Tom Tidey coupled with domination over Barnet in the maul gave the Hitchin pack a superior platform from the outset. Adam Howard and Eliot Gibson were linking up well in the 9 and 10 position and were also providing clean balls to the runners off of them. However, an unwavering Barnet piled on the pressure and the Hitchin defence inevitably broke. Barnet’s large (but yet soft) second row crashed over the line giving the hosts a 7-0 lead. Despite conceding the first points Hitchin had played well. The mighty Jamie King was outstanding, making massive clearances and relieving the pressure on Hitchin. Enterprising breaks and powerful running had been delivered from James ‘water hog’ Drury who made good yards. These breaks were cleaned out well by Sam Underwood in his new found position as open side flanker.
For many teams, playing away and losing the first half would be a hammer blow… but not for the hearty Hedgehogs. Inspiring his team and raising morale, Benucci gave an encouraging half time talk.
Returning to the field the tempo had clearly shifted. Hitchin were now embracing every opportunity, running in two’s and three’s, off loading the ball to each and clearing out rucks at a lightening pace. The anticipated break arrived when the Hedgehog scrum half, Adam Howard, in an innovative move picked the ball up from the ruck on their 10 meter line. This was cleverly off loaded onto the Italian skipper, Joe Benucci, who drew on his ‘on-field-know-how’ to blast past the defence and dive over the line. Jamie King kicked over the extra’s to make it 7-7. Things had clicked into place for the persistent away team. The momentum started to build and Hitchin’s running was breaking holes through the Barnet defence. With fifteen minutes remaining and Hitchin camped on Barnet’s 5 meter line, the ball was incredibly slow coming out, but Sam ‘the power house’ Underwood lived up to his name and dived over the line to put Hitchin in the lead. Jamie missed the post’s. (7-12 to Hitchin.)
In the last 10 minutes of the game it was hard to call who would take the win. Hitchin regained the ball from a line out and a ruck formed on the half way line. Adam Howard insightfully passed to Eliot ‘the tank’ Gibson who opened the flood gates and cruised through the Barnet tiring defence. The ball was off loaded to Michael Painter who handed off the Barnet full back and, to the relief of the Hitchin squad, nipped over the line. Ashley Chrocorane added the Extra’s to make it 7-19.
It was clearly Hitchin who had the last word in a memorable win. - Man of the Match – Jamie king for his composure and great kicking to release the pressure at the right time.
Team Thomas Tidey, Deon Marevich, Philip Hobbs, Kieran Barringer, James Drury, Joe Benucci, Adam Howard, Elliott Gibson, Ashley Cochrane, Michael Painter, Samuel Underwood, Colin Nation, James King
Subs Kevin Lok, Nick Chirgwin
Scores T: Michael Painter (1), Samuel Underwood (1), Joe Benucci (1)
C: James King (1), Ashley Cochrane (1)
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