Hitchin 37 - Stockwood Park 7

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Having had many cry off’s during the run-up to this fixture and another two on Sunday morning I was very grateful to Paul and his squad for assisting.

Stockwood had a very large pack and it looked like being a tough battle up front. Luckily Hitchin had lots of experience in the pack with Daniel returning after becoming a grand master of his chosen martial art.

George and Jo attack the Stockwood defence and carry the ball well into their 22. The ball is moved through the hands well by Sam playing at 10 out to Reggie and Will J. Hitchin win a penalty 10 metres out and the forwards use a penalty move. Garry carries up to and over the Stockwood line, but is held up. George picks up at the scrum and powers over the line for the first score.
5 - 0
Duane then comes running over to the coaches and states that he’s broken his wrist. We await the result of the hospital visit but I am aware Amos is having a great time in casualty as I write this.
From a great piece of mauling work in the middle of the pitch the ball is again moved wide by Tank. Joe picks up from the back of a ruck and shows strength to power over for another try.
10 - 0
Garry makes a searing break up the left flank. Daniel is in support. The ball is then worked through the hands to Reggie who hit’s the line at pace. A ruck under the posts produces slow ball. Tank is caught up in the ruck so Jo throws a basketball pass out to Andy L on the left who scores a good try.
15 - 0
Jake and Elliot are making their first starts for the team and both slot straight into the side. Jake making hard hits on the flank and Elliot supporting out on the wing. Unfortunately the game enters a lull for 15 minutes and the ball is kept in the forwards. The one opportunity Elliot gets in the first half is when he takes a high pass and has the line in front of him. The ref blows up for a earlier infringement and the moment is lost. Matt links well with Will J and Dave out on the left wing and gets Hitchin out of their own half well.
15 - 0 at half time a number of changes are made. Barry comes into fly-half and Jessie into the centre. Dave returns to his favoured wing position.
The half gets underway with a great run from Will J supported by Reggie and Dave, this is to be the story of the second half. The first run is ended by a pass to the opposition and the following run ends with a forward pass. Two scoring opportunities missed.
After a strong scrum Barry works the ball left. Dave cuts through the defence and feeds Will J. The ball is recycled to Garry who still has work to do. He crashes over for a good try.
20 - 0
The next try is scored by Will J. Again the ball is moved out wide by Barry, Jessie and Reggie. Dave takes the ball to the 22 line and throws a long pass to Will J who burns the defence.
Reggie the fastest flanker I have ever met, makes another great run from his own half again he has Will J and Dave in support. The move ends 2 metres out from some great Stockwood tackling.
Stockwood start to come back into the game, they are winning more ball in the loose and start to run at Hitchin.
The next try scored by Dave is out of the top draw. Reggie makes a break from the Hitchin 22. He zigzags up the pitch to the Stockwood 10 metre line. He feeds Jessie who shows class to pass to Garry. Using great vision Garry then sends out a 10 metre pass to Dave. Dave turns on the pace to score.
30 - 0
That man Reggie makes another break again he has the speed of Will J and Dave on each shoulder. Reggie chooses to feed Will J who scoots under the posts.
37 - 0
Stockwood have the last word. They get the ball on the half way. Forwards combine and work the ball up to within 10 of the Hitchin line. Stockwood’s big number 8 crashes over to take a good try under the posts.

Final score 37 - 7

Man of the match was Garry for some great work both in tight and open play. Reggie was superb in the centre and Tank gave top service all day long. Will J and Dave showed stunning speed. Those of you on holiday, you missed a cracking game. Training Tuesday night but no training over the bank holiday weekend.