Hitchin 10 Old Merchant Taylor’s 26

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Hitchin’s chances of gaining promotion all be it disappeared on Saturday when they lost at home to North London side Old Merchant Taylors.

Having only just lost away by two points earlier in the season the Hitchin team assumed a win was on the cards without reckoning with the competitive elements of OMTs.

From the kick off the larger OMTs pack tore into their smaller opponents and sustained pressure coupled with poor defence resulted in the visitor’s centre scything though for a converted try to put them 0 – 7 ahead. Further poor tackling soon resulted in another converted try and Hitchin were having a bad day. Things got even worse when from a lineout a catch and drive resulted in a third unanswered try for the visitors.
Now the Hedgehogs woke up and a good attacking move ended when prop Sean McGinnity put in a chip kick re-gathered the ball and crashed over for try which made the scores 5 – 19 at half time.
A stinging half time team talk by coaches Marshall and Duignam seemed to have stopped the rot when the home side came out fired up for the second half and within minutes scored a try. A bullocking up field drive by McGinnity followed by a break by “Magic” Jones resulted in winger Chris Martin crossing in the corned and making the score 10 -19.
This was to be Hitchin’s final score as despite outstanding performances from Nick Panton, skipper Carwyn Morgan and McGinnity the Hitchin side continued to turnover or kick away quality possession which resulted in all their efforts getting them nowhere. The game ended as poorly as it had begun with a weak clearance from the 22 meter line a counter attack by OMTs and a desperate covering tackle by Morgan resulted in a penalty try for the visitors and yellow card for the Hitchin skipper.
For any chance of promotion now Hitchin must rely on a major miracle. Hitchin’s coaching team were not available for comment at the end of the match.

Other results:

Hitchin 3rds. 55 Mill Hill 2nds . 0
Welwyn 5ths. 19 Hitchin 4ths 26