HITCHIN RFC UNDER 14s REACH COUNTY PLATE FINAL!!

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Hitchin RFC Under 14s reached the final of the Hertfordshire County Plate competition with a fine 58-7 semi-final victory against Hertford B last Sunday after playing some exhilarating rugby.

After an inconclusive start to the game where both teams tried to settle down and eliminate nerves, the Hitchin side began to exert control and were running good set-piece and ruck ball. With such quality possession scores were bound to follow and surging runs from forwards Callum Taylor and Edwin van Der Berg and debutant Will Coles gave the backs space to attack a fragile Hertford defence which soon gave the first try of the day to winger Samie Ben Hassine.

The pattern was set for the rest of the game- quick and accurate ball from half-backs Adam Cooper and Callum McRobbie and the strong running of the Hitchin centres, Tom Jeffries and Edgar Weaver, were able to give time and space for other players to score spectacular tries. Further scores came from Kieran Caldwell, Callum Mc Robbie, Samie and Edgar Weaver. At half time Hitchin were already looking at a Final place at 29-0 up.

The second half continued in the same vein. Hitchin made the full quota of substitutions to allow the match-squad of 21 to enjoy the day. James Tilley kick-started the second half with a fine run on the wing and good recycled ball allowed Kieran Caldwell to crash over under the posts.

Hertford are always a good and competitive team and it is all credit to them that they never gave up despite the onslaught. They fought for every ball and were rewarded with a converted try.

This only served to push the Hitchin team to new heights and a fine 60m dash from Tom Jeffries saw him score under the posts followed by hat-trick tries for full back Kieran Caldwell and winger Samie Ben Hassine.

A job well done saw 10 tries scored by Hitchin with four conversions from Tom Jeffries against a committed Hertford team who never gave up and fought to the end. A very good performance by the Under 14 Hitchin side who are a real credit to the town’s rugby club and who displayed some fine passing and tackling skills that have gained them a well-deserved County Final place in April.