1st Team v Old Merchant Taylors RFC

Old Merchant Taylors    16        Hitchin    39

Hitchins' young guns blew OMT's off the pitch in their opening league fixture of the season.  With both teams looking to play an expensive attacking game the match was certainly a spectacle for all those who watched, but probably enjoyed more by the travelling Hitchin supporters.  The scoring was opened by OMT's, if somewhat against the run of play, when some slack defensive work on the blindside of the breakdown was capitalised by a fast and aggressive OMT backrow.  Hitchin immediately went back on the offensive and some slick handling across the backline saw Michael Painter carve through the defense to score under the posts.  With a Jack Peachey conversion Hitchin took a lead that they were never going to lose.  A second Hitchin try was then scored by Vinnie Kevans after tremendous pressure on the OMT's backs produced spilt ball.  Peachey once again scored the conversion.  Just before halftime and following a penalty shot, a slickly taken breakaway move by the OMT backline saw them cross the line a second time, with the conversion missed the halftime score stopped at 14 -13 in Hitchins' favour.
Playing with the slope in the second half constant Hitchin pressure, both in attack and defense, suggested that the game was moving more and more towards Hitchin.  In midfield Carwyn Morgan was forever playing in the face in the OMT backline and with Kevans beginning to find more and more space OMT's found themselves spending long periods in their own half.  Peachey was next to cross the line following a well worked starter move and superb support play.  Pressure in the front row from Richard Stidolph, Marcus Moore and Sean McGinnity resulted in turnover ball time and time again.  It was from this pressure that Graham King crashed over for Hitchins' fourth try.  Hitchins' fifth try came, again from scrum dominance, but this time with Joe Lockeyer taking on the OMT backrow singlehandedly and driving over the line.  An exchange of penalty kicks moved the scoreboard forward again.  Finally there was just time for Chris Betts to finish off another superbly worked starter move in the backs and cross the line to leave the score 39 - 16 in Hitchins' favour.
Hitchin worked hard for the win and their superior fitness levels probably paid dividends in the end.  Following the match Mick Carey, one of the senior coaching team, referred to both the work rate and and commitment of the team, "The guys have worked very hard over the close season and todays result reflects that endeavour.  With Carwyn (Morgan) and Vinnie (Kevans) dominating the midfield and the total commitment of the forwards to both set piece and loose play we looked in good shape.  We have a very young side who look to play an open, fast game.  There is work still to do still but they took a great step forward today." 


Team Sean McGinnity, Marcus Moore, Richard Stidolph, Nick Panton, James Drury, Simon Banner, Graham King, Joseph Lockyer, Rob Willis, Jack Peachey, James Larman, Chris Betts, Vincent Kevans, Michael Painter, Carwyn Morgan

Subs Samuel Underwood (on for Michael Painter), Owen Holden (on for Marcus Moore), Robert Vivian (on for Rob Willis)

Scores T: Joseph Lockyer (1), Graham King (1), Vincent Kevans (1), Jack Peachey (1), Michael Painter (1), Chris Betts (1) C: Jack Peachey (3) P: Jack Peachey (1)

Players of Match 1. Carwyn Morgan, 2. Graham King, 3. Richard Stidolph