Old Millhillians 8 Hitchin 60

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Hitchin start the New Year with a Bang!!

Hitchin travelled away to Herts/Middlesex side Old Millhillians on Saturday and produced rugby of such high quality that it made travelling supporters agree the trip was well worth it for the non-stop entertainment on show.

From the kick off Hitchin received the ball and immediately set off an attack which resulted in the home side conceding a penalty which was converted by full back Thomas to start the scoreboard ticking over. Within seconds this was followed by a concerted team effort with the back row of Benucci, Davies and Bannner driving up field delivering the ball out of the tackle and quick hands in the backs provided Thomas with the space to dummy his pass, wrong foot the defence and cross for a fine opening try.

Hitchin received the ball again and without hesitating roared up field with the final pass going to left wing James Larman, who put in a delicate grubber kick and beat the cover defence to the touchdown. Larman followed this up with his second try within minutes when the whole team worked the ball up field at speed providing the young winger with the space to beat his man on the outside and score a fine try converted by Thomas. So with only ten minutes gone Hitchin were twenty points up and running away with the game.

The Hedgehogs had a quick wake up call when conceding a penalty which was converted to allow the home side to put points on the scoreboard. Two more tries followed before half time with Aidan Barnett quick tapping a penalty and running in a try without any of the home defence laying a finger on him. Converted by Thomas. The final try was scored after a strong run by right wing Adam Shaw and again converted by Thomas putting the score at half time 34 – 3 in Hitchin’s favour.

26 points were scored in the second half after Coach David Marshall had given his team talk and patrolled the touchline making sure that his players did not allow the game to slow down.

A third try from Larman began the half followed by three tries by Kiwi centre Jimmy Scott all varied in their execution and relying on a great amount of team work by both forwards and backs. The best try being a length of the field attack after solid defence almost on the Hedgehogs’ line resulted in turnover ball and a break initiated by Scott and supported by Shaw and a great deal of interpassing ending in a well earned third try for the outside centre.

A final lack of concentration allowed the home side a consolation try but the final score amplified the Hitchin side’s domination of almost very aspect of the game. Fine performances were put in by “Man of the Match” Joe Benucci and long time veteran second row Dougie Brooker with full back “Taff” Thomas scoring 23 points on his own.

Captain Carwyn Morgan stated after the game that the score was due to speed, support play and fitness and a result of the hard work put in by the coaching team led by David Marshall.

Next Saturday the Hedgehogs entertain Royston in a Hertfordshire President’s Trophy match 2 p.m. kick off.

Other scores:

Hitchin 2nds. 15 Datchworth 2nds. 27

Mill Hill 3rds. 17 Hitchin 3rds 5

Hitchin 4ths. 12 Datchworth 4ths. 24