Enfield Ignatians 10 – Hitchin 2s 27
A few weeks ago a strong Hitchin 2s side went down vs an Enfield side at King Georges and if you recall I stated then that the return fixture would herald a very different result……2 weeks later the scoreboard backs up that confidence and, more importantly, a team performance from Hitchin that was more than worthy of this win.
For the last 4 games the Hitchin 2s haven’t been able to buy a win (and yes I have tried) but for those close to this side they will have noticed a real sense of something building and that a deserved win was not far away, building a team that wants to play for each other takes time and this afternoon in Enfield’s own back yard everything clicked.
From the start the writing was on the wall, an Enfield kick didn’t make 10mtrs but with no whistle Lex scooped up the ball and headed for clear gaps in the Enfield pack……after 20mtrs of running the first ruck was set and Hitchin took control, with the type of dominant rugby that was only ever going to deliver one result.
The first 10mins of the game continued to set the scene. The Hitchin forwards playing some great off-load rugby, always moving forward. Jason Livings appeared to be everywhere (and I don’t think he made one mistake all day!), Carl Astley was immense as Jason’s 2nd row partner and with a backrow of Ed Bellamy (beard watch now shows a very think thatch with no hint of ginger…..it is rumoured that all beards turn ginger in the end!), Simon Banner (fresh back from suspension and liking this ref much more than the last one he played with) and Nick Chergwin (guitar left at home today) the Enfield pack never stood a chance. The quality of play really was something to stand back and admire……….(yes that’s what I was doing when not hitting those rucks!)
With a front row of Tommy Tidey, Lex and the (40 plus) Mark Tidey the scrum was starting to work for Hitchin, a couple of wins against the head gave the side even more confidence. This wasn’t a fully one sided affair and the Enfield pack competed well, just out classed on the day.
For all the dominance of the forwards the main part of today’s match report is going to have to be dedicated to the backs (well they did score all the points!). In previous weeks weak tackling in the back line have let the team performance down, but today I had the luxury of picking the 1st choice centre partnership……..Ryan and Dom Horn (back from injury) were quite simply amazing……….’Prison’ Ryan to his friends (believe me it’s in your favour to be his friend) continually hit up into the Enfield backs, when we or they had the ball…….Dom Horn was using his pace and ability to always be in the right place and get the real ‘speed’ machines into the game………….
With such a big pitch Max Weatherhead and Matt Lippard were loving the room to open their (short) legs and make good yards at every opportunity, often cutting in and going back for a second time to prove that Enfield, in the main, couldn’t get close enough to tackle.
Ashley Cochrane, today was his game for other reasons, was solid at 15…….choosing to run at the right times and I can’t recall him missing one high ball or tackle all day
With the forwards playing well and the backs running the show we needed a strong 9 and 10 to link the two together……enter Dale Baines (full 80mins and no ‘instances’ to mention) and Ryan Colclough were more than up to the task and both made the right decisions to keep the ball tight or launch (3 player missed pass at times) the backs to run riot.
The Enfield team were worthy opposition and scored a try either side of half time, both through strong forward play and amid a pile of bodies. It was just reward for a tight unit who never let their heads drop………….
So while we are on the subject of scoring let me run you through the 27 points for Hitchin 2s………
Try 1: 1st Half Dale Baines ‘side step’
Relishing the game at 10 Dale was a nuisance (in the right way) to Enfield all day, his try was typical of his ability to turn defences and use his obvious power and speed (over 5mtrs) to crash over the line……the side step was a move to behold and this first score really got the team fired up…..he even had the cheek to convert his own try ………and miss all the rest !!
Try 2: Max Weatherhead ‘pace…pace…pace’
One of the fastest things on two legs in Hitchin Max was unstoppable for most of the game, his first try was all about the speed of the Hitchin backs….Dom, Matt and Ashley all involved to give Max the room to finish…….20mins into the game and the boys were well up for it
Try 3: Dom Horn ‘team try’
The Hitchin forwards might not have scored any points today but they earned every single one for Hitchin, Simon Banner’s constant persistence around the breakdown (he has a new fan in the shape of the Enfield No. 4…..I think he is on Si’s wedding list now)…..and with some loose forward play (yep Jason there again) the ball was worked quickly forward….then spread wide and Dom covered the final mtrs to the line to cruise over
At halftime a few changes were made, the younger Tidey left the pitch (much to the amusement of his dad…..yep full 80mins for the Hitchin legend this week) so Ryan moved into hooker and Matt Lippard stepped up, admirably, to 9. Max Clayton also came on and immediately made a difference, taking control at the lineout and continuing the great play he has given the 2s and 3s all season. Ross Howard slipped in onto the wing and…….
Back to try time
Try 4: 20 seconds on the pitch and I give you Ross Howard !
Straight form the re-start Jason decided that he would toss the Enfield No8 onto the floor and the ball popped out………in stepped Ross Howards foot and after a short (but fast chase) the first touch of the ball with Ross’ hands was to mark the ball over the line for 5 points……..(you missed that one Adam but when you get back from Oz we will talk you through it!)
Try 5: WTF did Max just do that………..
Not content with showing how he could gas the Enfield backs all day Max Weatherhead decided to show how he could part 8 Enfield forwards (think Moses parting of the red sea here…..) and he ran into the Enfield pack……bounced around a bit……shot out the other side and put the ball down in the scoring zone…..it was that simple, but a bit bemusing to all !
So……I could write on for pages after a match like that, I haven’t even got round to talk about Ed Bellamy rushing forward, ball in hand, to the inside centre position and releasing a ‘bullet’ of a pass (magic bullet) to the flummoxed Hitchin back 3……..but by that time it was ‘show time’
All 17 men stepped up today and made Hitchin proud, none more so than Ashley Cochrane……….he gets this weeks Man of the Match as much for what this week has been for him off the pitch as well as how he performed on it.
This win was for Holly and our mate Ashley……….we back each other up J
Team Richard Lucas, Thomas Tidey, Mark Tidey, Carl Astley, Jason Livings, Max Clayton, Simon Banner, Edward Bellamy, Ryan Colclough, Dale Baines, Max Weatherhead, Ryan Bloomfield, Dominick Horn, Matthew Lippard, Ashley Cochrane
Subs Nick Chirgwin, Ross Howard
Scores T: Max Weatherhead (2), Dominick Horn (1), Ross Howard (1), Dale Baines (1)
C: Dale Baines (1)
Player(s) of Match 1. Ashley Cochrane
The league: Herts Mddx Merit Table