U10s. Hitchin v Royston. 30/3/08

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Honours even. What a difference a week makes! Last Sunday, we were throwing snowballs and playing on a carpet of white stuff in Lincolnshire. Today, a real hint of spring in the air and a feel- good factor at the club, with our Saxons producing their best win for a long time and the U17s beating St Evenage to win their league. Well done! Wasps even managed to reverse their defeat by Leicester last week and won at Welford Rd (1st time in 13 yrs) and Sarries walloped Leeds, with a number of our group present.

Game 1
Hitchin Saxons 5 v 0 Royston

Ashley 3, Bradley, Tom.

Taylor, Oli P, Daniel: Aless, Will J:Bradley ,Tom, Max, Ashley,

OJ kindly offered himself to the visitors to help their numbers (top man!). In training, our players had done well to attempt interceptions and so it continued in the game. Tom managed to get the ball from a R pass and started a good attack. Oli P was tackling like a demon and Dan was playing with real aggression . Will made a great run , then Tom put Ashley in for his 1st of the day 1-0. Bradley got in on the tackling and Max, playing at centre in the absence of Frazer and Oli Red, showed great vision to spot a gap and also kept the ball well in contact. The pack were rucking superbly, with Taylor getting up steam, allowing the backs free rein (not rain thankfully-very warm and sunny now) and Bradley also made an intercept. R started to play with more cohesion but it was 1-0 at HT. Oli P and Dan started off strongly in the 2nd half and Ashley made huge ground, forsaking several opportunities to pass, but made it to the line, 2-0. Aless was tackling with fury and she also advised Ashley to run “Straight!” after a meandering run. Tom made it 3-0 with a good move, after Will passed and space was found on the wing. Coach Nick called “Brilliant rucking”. Apparently this had been a good season to date for R, so this performance was all the more impressive. Ashley got his Hat-trick, after ripping the ball from a ruck and running ¾ the length of the pitch, 4-0, then Daniel gave it a go too, with a barnstorming run. Bradley sealed the win, with a try at the end -5-0.
Our best showing for several weeks. Well done front row for giving us such a good platform to work off.

Game 2
Hitchin Vikings 4 v 7 Royston

Max 2, Maitiu, George.

Taylor, Aaron, Maitiu: George, Jack: Conor, Max, OJ, Sam C.

With a number of absences, some players turned out again and the question of numbers for next year was raised. With our squad of 24 players, we may struggle to put out 2 teams regularly next year, with 12 starting players needed per team, so start working on those sporty types at school/cubs to come and give it a go in September. With rugby being a game for all sizes, we should try to get the extra-tall or extra large ones in, to give us more bulk. We do seem a small lot in comparison to many teams!
R had a good long chat to organise themselves and came out fighting. Maitiu was rucking well and George was sending out some nice spin passes. OJ, now back with us, made a good tackle, but poor tackling allowed them in. 0-1. Mat made a great bullocking run to get straight back 1-1. but their player of the day, Charlie, got another 1-2. Aaron tackled well then Max made a try saving one, but poor passing on the line let them score 1-3. Max then had a good run to go close, but their Charlie made ground back. 1-3 at HT. Daniel swapped with Taylor for the 2nd half. A nice moment came when, a R player, trapped at the bottom of a nasty ruck, chuckled when play was stopped, saving his bacon! Hitchin were caught on their line again, trying to relieve pressure (bring on kicking!) and let them in. 1-4. A basketball type bounce was followed by Jack running powerfully, sadly ending with him in the “blood bin” (Aless coming in to Fly ½ then later to Scrum ½. ) Max got his 1st try with a superb run then R came back after the ball was lost, 2-6. A real ding dong this one. Max was put in again, this time by Jack, now returned to the fray, then Conor was unlucky to miss his opponent 3-7. George scored a trademark scrum ½ try off the base of the scrum to finish things off. 20-35, in “new money” (not as good as Sarries 66-7. or the U17s 35 – 7?). Too many missed tackles here and not enough pressure put on R.
Daniel was named Saxons POW for his dynamic play. Max got it for the Vikings, following great running and tackling.
Training next week, with the focus on Dunstable, then the County Cup the week after.
Bar-b-q follows and it’s a wrap (as us musicians say!) Please let me know of any unavailability in the coming weeks, especially for the County festival. We are on SATURDAY. For those new to this, it can be a long day, if your child’s team progress through to the knockouts. Sarnies, paper, drinks (Red wine please) and deck chair etc, essential. Does anyone have a large gazebo thing to shade our players from the Sun (ever the optimist) or snow?
Colin Moon, photographer extraordinaire, has discs of various matches for people, if they would like them. £1 a go.