Plate Final: Finchley 2s 8 – Hitchin 2s 5
The sun came out to play and there was a real sense of anticipation amongst the Hitchin 2s as they joined their ‘older and wiser’ Hedgehogs (Hitchin 4s) at cup final day in Barnet.
Against a team they had somewhat embarrassed (the previous week) the Hitchin side were confident that they had it in them to win a well deserved piece of silverware at the end of a ‘topsy-turvy’ season.
Alas the Finchley 2s had other ideas and maybe last weeks lesson in dominant rugby was the inspiration they needed to prepare well for the game and make some key selection choices
So to the key moments in the game…….one which both sides deserved something from and both took…..Finchley the win & plate and Hitchin an immense sense of pride and a side that is already looking forward to enjoying success together next year (watch this space).
Hitchin started the first half and both sides were immediately into the action, tackling hard and competing well on a sun baked (very hard!) Barnet pitch. The opening 20mins showed nothing more than two sides equally matched and hungry for the win, a series of scrums (still dominated by the Hitchin pack but a bolstered Finchley forward 8 from last week made it more of a contest), Stephen Freeman was starting to enjoy his work in the front row and already demonstrating why he is so highly rated by all at Hitchin…….supported by the younger Tidey (Tommy) and James ‘Nuts’ Bolter it was a great platform for the rest of the Hitchin forwards to work. Lex, Kieran Barringer, Michael Starling, Pumba and Ian ‘Vagazzle’ Thompson all putting great work in to ensure the Finchley forwards got little reward.
The Finchley side started to move the ball away from the forwards in a well planned attempt to get a hold on the game and on a number of occasions made good ground up field, for the first half Steve Merritt pretty much kept Hitchin in the match with a number of key tackles (I think I counted him on the wrong side of four 3 on 1s !!) so it was no surprise that Finchley scored first with a well worked backs move and a try (conversion failed).
From now on in Hitchin eradicated the errors that had led to Finchley crossing the line, for the next 60mins of rugby I can’t recall another Finchley moment of danger (and as you can see from the score the final difference was to come from a well taken penalty, deep in the 2nd half). Completing the scoring round-up the Hitchin try came from a well worked ‘quick’ freekick from Ryan Colclough with a great off load to ‘Vagazzle’ who scored his first (and I guarantee not his last) try for Hitchin.
So try’s done and dusted in the first half, a dominant Hitchin performance in the second but, agonisingly, no more points for the Hedgehogs left the team massively disappointed but, as already mentioned, proud of all 18.
The positives were there for all to see, Jamie King back at 10 (after injury) and showing signs that he will soon be knocking on the 1st team door…….as will Matt Lippard (always worth 3 trys….but alas not today as I do accept he needs the ball in his hands first!), Ryan Bloomfield in his first season of rugby already a ‘first pick’ for the Hitchin 2s along with Robert King (who reminded me that last year we both played for the 4s…….on reflection at least I’d understand what those guys say…..it must be an age thing!)…………….chuck in Stevie Merritt, Ross and his little brother Adam Howard, Ashley Cochrane (even though he insisted a pass isn’t forward till the receiving player catches it!) and you can see why next season can’t come soon enough for Hitchin 2s.
Enjoy the break, tours and pre-season training because it’s going to be here sooner than you think!
Team James Bolter, Thomas Tidey, Stephen Freeman, Richard Lucas, James Drury, Michael Starling, Ian Thomson, Kieran Barringer, Ryan Colclough, James King, Steve Merritt, Ryan Bloomfield, Robert King, Matthew Lippard, Ashley Cochrane
Subs Ross Howard, Mark Tidey, Adam Howard
Scores 
The league: Herts Mddx Merit Table