Cambridge visit chilly Hitchin

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Cambridge brought a mixed development/A team squad on a bitterly cold morning and gave us 2 good games before retreating back home for warmth. Hitchin fared well, but could not gain a win. Here are the details:-

Game 1
Hitchin A 1 v 2 Cambridge (lost)
Squad Aaron, Aless, Ashley, Daniel, Frazer, George, Maitiu, Oliver P, Taylor, Tom.

The funniest moment of the day before kick off, with Maitiu’s dad bravely chasing some card he had dropped half way across the pitch! The wind was strong and very chilly! Close 2nd was the Cambridge squad looking in awe at the team on the U10's pitch, wondering if they could all go home before the match. It was actually the U12's who had not got onto their pitch by then. We were pleased to note that the big dreadlocked lad, Jonah, was not present today, but his replacement, Milo was big too. A slight conflict of interest, as one of my Trumpet pupils from St John’s school in Cambridge, is at Hooker. Cam. get the first score, driving over, but their style is one we would do well to copy, a fast rucking game. We try, and do quite well, but it is clicking for the visitors as they set up good positions. Dan competed very strongly for the ball and the whole team put their bodies on the line with good tackles. None more so than George, who was nearly folded up, leading to a nasty back injury. He was replaced by Ashley, with Ollie P moving to scrum half. A Cam. player made a break and a try looked a certainty, until Ashley caught up with him! A fantastic tackle ended that move. Aless, playing on the wing, also made a great tackle, but in the 3rd minute of extra time( with no chance for ref Colin to halt play, Cam. got over. 0-2 at HT. Tom made a great pick up from a Cam. knock on, but was caught near the line and then also got a good tackle in over the try line. Novice, Maitiu was displaying good skills in the pack and also showed nice some handling, but sadly we were losing the ball at scrums. A session with Mick Carey is planned to work on scrummaging. Tom, Frazer and Ashley were showing some excellent running skills and finally Ben got over the line for 1-2.

Game 2
Hitchin B 3 v 5 Cambridge (lost)

Squad –Bradley, Christian, Connor, Jack, Max, Oliver S, Sam C, Sam J, Toby, William.

Cam. took some of their A players out for this one. Bradley was busy all over the pitch, but following a Cam injury, the coach made a rather unwise call, in view of the temperature “ Robert, get undressed and on the pitch!” I THINK we know what he meant! (Robert had donned several layers to keep warm). Cam were pressing hard, but good defence, with Jack (learning scrum half in the B’s….well he was a bit late, Tony decorating in France, so Helen responsible, but then he’s probably there first most weeks, and the team had been picked when he arrived.) William was showing great pace and skill from FH but sadly Cam got 2 tries before the break. 0-2 HT. Milo, the big Cam FH danced through for a 3rd try, then William, obviously imagining a plate of food waiting for him over the try line, cruised in for 1-3. Cam got another, despite brave play by the hosts. There was much industry, but we were going backwards for many of the phases. Christian got in on the act, 2-4, with a length of pitch run and it was he who got the last also, with a tackle busting run. Cam had got one in between, making it a commendable 3-5 at the close. Entertaining rugby from all the teams and Cam decided to call it a day, heading off for warmth. A word here for the unsung heroes, the medics, who attend our home matches and were kind enough to check over George’s back, just to be sure. Nothing too serious, but a sore back for a day or so! Hot bath recommended (sounds good for all us frozen souls).
Not intent on wimping off at this point, a game between the A’s and B’s was arranged. Oliver P made a good run for the A’s and Maitiu got in. 1-0 to A’s. Trevor Smith was touch judging (or is it “referees assistant” yet?) with zeal, helping his son’s team on the way. Tom made it 2-0 and Frazer glided over for 3-0 at HT. We looked each other in bewilderment as we thought we heard a steam engine in the distance and Ashley then puffed over for 4-0. Try of the day (if not season says Col) followed ,with great movement by Frazer and Ben, showing deft handling leading to a try for Tom, 5-0. Frazer made a well balanced run to end the rout, 6-0 (42-0 if ‘conversions’ all made) , which hopefully proved that many of the selections were correct.
(Game 3 Hitchin A 6 v 0 Hitchin B)

Player of the week- several candidates, but for the A’s Ashley was close, but it went to Ben for great commitment in his new position of centre. Hopefully, he’ll give propping another go before the seasons out. With no Laurence here today, we were missing his bulk in the scrum. For the B’s, William was outstanding, but for his try scoring feats (looking like a Blonde Andrew Harriman, if you remember him?)it was Christian who got the nod. Colin collected the "Girls Aloud" award for best ref (he was the only one!) and best hangover last week (at a corporate jolly on Saturday 'til late where the girls strutted their stuff! He pitched up at about 12.00 looking very peaky)Training next week and hopefully the wind will have dropped.