U10 Vikings at St Neots Festival.Saxons at home to Letch.

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Vikings make 1/4 final, but lose to hosts. FAIR PLAY WINNERS!
With the Vikings ‘oop North at the St Neots festival, the Saxons resources were stretched a bit thin.

Hitchin U10's Vikings at the St Neot's Festival

After last week finishing the county festival at Hertford with a great 3 - 1 win over Stevenage we arrived with the hope that we would be able to carry that form on this week.
Our first pool game would be against Newmarket with St.Neot's and Ely to follow, one good win and not too many try's conceded would see us through to the quarter finals.

Squad:

Christian, Aaron, Maitiu, Sam, George, Jack ( Capt. ), Ben, Max, Toby, Andrew, Connor and Oli P on loan from the Saxons.

Game 1 Hitchin 0 v 1 Newmarket

As we on the touchline hoped the team started as they left off last week with great team work in defence and attack. They really took the game to Newmarket from the whistle, but Newmarket defended well and a tight first half followed. Some good running rugby from the backs and some good drives from the forwards with Oli P, Christian and Maitiu working well together. At half time 0 - 0.

In the second half Toby came on for Andrew and Sam took over from Maitiu. Again Hitchin really took the game to Newmarket with George controlling the base of the rucks and feeding Jack who was able to get Ben and Max away on strong runs. However, on one occasion after Jack had made a strong run deep in to the Newmarket half at the ruck the ball got turned over and the Newmarket player broke away to run the full length of the pitch to score against the run of play. Hitchin really got into overdrive with massive tackles from everyone and continued pressure on the Newmarket line but with no score. 'Last play' called by the ref at the halfway line, Oli P took our ball at the scrum we then played at least five phases where we rucked and re-cycled the ball all the way to the Newmarket line only for the ball to break loose over the Newmarket line and for them to touch down with no time for scrum five. Final whistle 1 - 0 to Newmarket. A disapointment after such a fantastic passage of play and what a game to start the day.

Game 2 St. Neot's 3 v 0 Hitchin

Again Hitchin straight out of the blocks, driving at St Neot's. Ben with some good runs up the middle, the ball on the ground, re-cycled and again charging at St Neot's with Sam, then Christian and Aaron now back at hooker. The backs also running at St. Neot's, good set moves which got Max away and Connor though all to be stopped by the well organised St. Neot's defence. Even with all this good play we still went into half time 2 - 0 down because of simple knock on's or lost ball in the tackle, St. Neot's were able to break through some missed tackles and score two break away trys.

The second half started with good Hitchin possession, they continued driving at St. Neot's with runs from Andrew down the wing, strong runs in the middle from Maitiu on for Sam and some great tackles especially from Oli P on for Christian at prop. St. Neot's were only able to score one more try in the second half so the final score was 3 - 0 to St. Neot's.

Game 3 Hitchin 3 v 1 Ely

'We need to win or we are going home and we don't want that!' said our Director of Rugby before the game. The pressure was on, then we saw the size of Ely forwards, 'maybe it's the stripy shirts that make 'em look bigger' someone shouted.

Again Hitchin started really well with good re-cycling from the ruck ball and after Jack made a forging break down the middle of the field the forwards drove over. George passed out to Ben who drew his centre and passed out to Toby who ran for the corner beating the Ely winger and scoring in the corner, the touch line goes mad! Hitchin 1 - 0. Then Hitchin forgot they still had the rest of the game to play and let Ely through for a very soft try, 1 - 1. Hitchin again play to their strengths and soon George is able to get the backs away again, good hands sees Max able to scorch through the gap to score Hitchin's second try 2 - 1 half time.

Second half, Ely continue to power up the pitch with their big forwards and all the Hitchin team tackle like mad. Injuries start to hit us, with Sam having to leave the pitch and others such as George carrying knocks as well, but all continue to battle on. So with ball in hand Hitchin always looked good enough to score another try and sure enough a third try is scored...But who scored it?? General consensus is that it was Christian, but with all the excitement the coaches can not remember so please let us know if we are wrong!! Full time 3 - 1 to Hitchin, is that enough to get us through to the quarters? Director of Rugby he says YES, so straight back on the pitch against St. Neot's.
Max heads off to attend St. George's parade, well played Max. we all head off for the quarter final, Sam fit again but not sure about some of the others!

Quarter Final St. Neot's v Hitchin

St. Neot's start the game, Hitchin turn the ball over but as George passes to Jack, Ginger Rees pops up to intercept and scamper through to score. St. Neot's then really up the pressure and Hitchin are forced to defend but soon St. Neot's are 2 - 0 up. Hitchin start to come into the game and start linking well and getting some passes out which get Christian away on a mazy run with Ben in support. However, there is some good tackling from St. Neot's and a turn over ball allows Rees to be set free again to score for St. Neot's 3 - 0 at half time.

At half time the coaches try to raise the team. They look tired but they come out to the second half and again take the game to St. Neot's. Ben with some driving runs linking with Aaron now playing at centre to replace Max. Also, Toby is stopped just short of the line and Andrew comes close as well but St. Neot's defend defiantly and from a scrum five yards from the St. Neot's line Rees again picks up and skips tackles to run almost the length of the pitch to score 4 - 0 to St. Neot's. Now injuries are hitting us hard. George down but carries on, Ben down but stays on, Jack down but stays on. The St. Neot's pressure is building and again a loose ball is picked up, a long run and St. Neot's score 5 - 0. Ben is injured again and has to go off. Christian moves to centre and Sam back on at prop but again St. Neot's score 6 - 0. George is down again but stays on as we only have 9 fit players as Ben is with the medics. Hitchin never give up and continue to fight for every ball and at last are rewarded as Oli P rips the ball from a St. Neot's forward, George feeds Christian who sprints up the line to score. Full time 6 - 1 to St. Neot's. Hitchin never give up !!

Final Thoughts

What a great day's rugby! Thanks to St. Neot's for a really well organised tournament and thanks to the teams we played. All the games were played in the right spirit and Hitchin played some of the best rugby all season. A great day - well done to all.

Late news from the Director of Rugby - Hitchin U0's won the Fair Play trophy and Hitchin as a club won the Fair play award. So well done U10's and all Hitchin players at St. Neot's.

We might not beat all -comers, but it proves the ethics of the game is right at our club and in particularly at our age group. Jack and Andrew, the remaining under ten players at 4pm collected the trophy on the teams behalf and held it up high.

Quarter finalists too!! great stuff, St Neots, or should I say Rees was just
too much for us again in this game. But we played some cracking rugby with our B team out. Just wanted to say well done to all of them. Toby scoring, Georges pass between his legs are the biggest memories. Ben did go to hospital, but I'm glad to report his chin is tough, and he got the all
clear, Jack rang to see how he was, and Ian said sorry he is busy kicking a football, so obviously all is well, apart from his brain.
On one final note, I'd like to say how proud I was of all players this
season, especially in the last two tournaments. In 2007 I questioned our
ability to put out teams who could win anything. Last year at the festival
we only scored one try and got bashed by all teams we faced. This year we have proved the Dave Marshall open play, non contact game training stile does work.

The Vikings, Quarter finalists at St Neots, great effort and they should of
got through at County too, only losing 1-0 to the mighty Bishop Stortford,
(2007 I remember them beating us 6-0),
At St Neots the rugby was fantastic, how a team that had the ball 80% of the time lost today only came about when a fast runner picked up and pushed through.

The A team, Saxons, also at County can hold their heads high, didn't win a
game but the score lines showed how we have improved. And they taught
Letchworth a lesson today I understand.

Top stuff from all, See at the tag / BBQ next Sunday.

Tony.
Tony Wuidart

Saxons Squad.
Daniel, William J, Taylor; Tom, Frazer; Sam C, Oli Red, Bradley, Ashley, Russell.

Game 1
Hitchin Saxons 4 v 2 Letchworth A
Oli Red 2, Ashley, Frazer.

With OJ crying off sick and no sign of Russell (he arrived bang on 10.30), William J bravely stepped into the hooker berth. Letchworth are a team we feel we can beat on a good day and so it proved. Big pressure from the visitors was soaked up, then Oli Red
(real name Malczyk-he used to wear a red hat. The rest is history) went on one of his immense runs. A penalty followed and a try was created for Frazer. Ashley was showing his team-mates how to tackle (LOW DOWN. Stop the legs moving and the player will fall) and Bradley (an Ashley clone if ever there was) retrieved the ball well on the floor. After a big effort from Letch., they got in just before HT 1-1. Russell now came on and Taylor and Frazer tackled lower, to good effect. William J had been watching too many Premiership Rugby games and threw a huge lob past the back player at a lineout and was pinged. First game at hooker though! By this time it was necessary for our very own Mr Magown to remonstrate with the rather over ebullient Letchworth coach, Inda. (it’s all right, they’re good mates). Tom, enjoying a return to Scrum half, in the absence of Aless, received good possession from a lineout and went on a great run, seeming to rebound off Letch. Players, like a pin-ball. Oli Red scored soon after, showing his strength. Letch got back even, but then Ashley and Oli again, made it safe at 4-2. By this time, the heavens had opened and I was lucky to have shelter with my Wasps brolly (wrong colours for today) being held by Colin “man in the Moon” and Jane Barnes. A good win against spirited opposition.

Game 2
Hitchin Saxons 1v 1 Letchworth
The players were looking extremely sodden by now, but bravely played on. Other less brave groups retreated to the shelter of the club. Inda was ref for this one and we sensed revenge was very much on the cards. The fact that we drew, despite all, says much for the attitude of the players today. After 3 penalties against us, all deserved I’m sure, we finally got our hands on the ball, with Taylor ripping like Jack the……... Bradley was in clone mode, tackling like Ash and we nearly got in, but, surprise, surprise, we were pinged on the line. Ashley did make it over, with a great break through their backline, but Letch got one back, for 1-1 at HT. The rain was still persistent and the game descended into a mess, with lost possesion etc. Bradley seemed clear on the touchline and was encouraged to carry on by Colin. “I make the decisions round here” said the ref and pulled him back. Worth a try, Colin -getting your own back for game 1. A run by William J and some good tackles by Tom and Frazer and that was a wrap. U10s season over. Colin praised all of the players for their commitment and said player of the week was…..the team. See you at the bar-b-q.