Hitchin U14s 5 Fullerians U14s 19

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It seemed fitting for our last league game of the season against Fullers that the playing conditions were perfect and a full team to pick from, to really test how far we really had moved on this season in our own development.

We really had nothing to play for, but they needed to win and by a good few tries to get their promotion back to division one. They had it all to play for and we were certain of a tough game, against a highly motivated team.

The early exchanges were very even and some excellent interplay between the forwards was good to watch, with very few mistakes and good displays of ball retention by both sides. When recycled the ball was used wisely with some good tactical kicking on show from both number 10’s. The whole experience was watching two fairly evenly matched teams, playing high tempo, dynamic rugby.

Fullers forwards gave a very good example of getting over the ball quickly and in numbers to secure possession and eventually earned themselves a penalty in front of our posts. The slightly wayward kick was returned by us, but fumbled to get them a scrum in a very attacking position. Their big powerful forwards secured the scrum and used quick ball to let their no 10 step inside our boys to score under the posts and convert. 0:7

With new found resilience this season, our boys quickly returned to their end of the pitch and kept up terrific pressure in the fullers 22; earning ourselves various set play advantages and ultimately a penalty. We took it quickly and moved it wide, with some terrific angles of running from various players to create space for a very determined Stefan to drive forward and score in the corner. 5:7 at half time.

The second half kicked off at the same tempo as the first and immediately we put them under pressure and spent some good pressure time in their 22, however they managed to get quick ball from the back of a ruck and flicked it to their exceptionally pacey winger and he steamed away to score under the posts 5:14.

We should have heeded that speed warning and even though we picked up our game again to really dominate possession and territory for the next few minutes, they dealt us another sucker punch and released the quick lad to score again! Move up quick in numbers lads when you have to defend that in future! Final score 5:19

That said general consensus was that it was possibly the best we have played all season and on another day we would have won. Fullers were extremely surprised at our development so all bodes exceptionally well for next season and in particular for Sunday for our big final

From Tim: A very good performance on Sunday which really charted the improvement of the whole squad this year. Fullers were impressed and certainly we did enough to win – apart from scoring the points that is. Another big step forward though. Same commitment on Sunday please!