League Match – Hitchin 31 Kilburn Cosmos 5

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Sunday dawned with a mixture of excitement and trepidation as the Ladies faced their first league match after only one friendly. The excitement was in the new players and the new dawn of a squad of 15 players and 6 substitutes with other squad members feeling guilty that they could not be there for the squad. Trepidation that, having finished a narrow second last season, there were 2 scenarios for this season – triumph and promotion or further heartbreak and disappointment. Coaches and players all felt that we are a stronger and better equipped team this year but results would tell....

Hitchin kicked off into a stiff breeze and were quickly into a frantic and tough battle for possession against a powerful pack. After good early pressure, the backs were cut loose, created space and Mihi suddenly burst through to score under the posts – Steph kicked the conversion. 7-0. Kilburn came right back and pinned Hitchin into their own 22 for a long period. Hitchin struggled to retain composure - strong defence was needed but there was too much headless chicken rugby giving away regular penalties to hold the line and eventually the big Kilburn pack bundled a player over the line for a try. 7-5. Kilburn drove forward again and pounded on the doors of Hitchin try line. One ‘score’ was held up, a number were stopped with last ditch tackles and suddenly the tide turned, Hitchin broke and Annie sidestepped into space and away for a score against the run of play. 12-5. Kilburn’s heads went down a bit and the play became a duel for possession in midfield. Hitchin forced another break-out and Mihi ran in under the posts after some more sweeping running from the backs after being set up by solid forward play – Steph converted. 19-5. After some feedback from the coach to the forwards, they finally started to play a more composed and less panicked game finally producing good quality ball to work off. Kilburn stood firm but could not resist another driving run, this time from Hayley, for a further try converted by Steph. 26-5. Half time.

Despite playing with the wind in the second half, Hitchin were still kept on their toes by a solid Kilburn performance. Tackles were traded, rucks and mauls ferociously contested and back moves stifled by fast defence forcing errors. Both sides produced good quality rugby and even as the teams tired and injuries started to take a toll the intensity of play was sustained. Annie managed to get the ball and pace and create enough space for herself to speed through on a great angle to score the final points. 31-5. So in the end, a match well won, probably by a slightly flattering margin, but Hitchin had the speed, fitness and flair that deserved the breaks they got. All the subs got game time and it was a tribute to the strength in depth of the squad that none of the replacements caused the team performance to drop.

Our next match is against Tabard who sit above us on top of the league because they have had one win and a walk-over victory. Having beaten them home and away last season, Hitchin will travel expecting to return in the position we want – Top of the League!

Scorers: Annie x2; Hayley and Mihi x2; Steph conversions x3

Forward of the match: Sabrina for a great effort in her first competitive full game of rugby.

Back of the match: Annie for excellent direction of the play from fly half.

Player of the Match: Lesley for total commitment all game and in all phases of the game.

Next League match: Tabard away 25th October.

Tim Bonnett

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07860 538823