UNDER 16s – Hitchin 22 Tring 26 (Herts Middx League 2)
A Sunday lunch kick off saw us return to league action this week.
Tring were the visitors and came to KGV unbeaten in the league. A tough game was expected.
Tring kicked off and before long Hitchin were awarded their first pen on their 22. The kick produced a line out on half way.
With the early game plan in mind the ball was quickly shipped along the backs. However a slight hesitation in the centres saw the pass intercepted before it could reach Joe H and Tring were in for a try and conversion within 5 mins. 0-7
Some good ruck work with real urgency at the breakdown saw Hitchin upto the Tring 22 but a pen in the ruck saw Tring clear back to the Hitchin 22. Hitchin were under pressure here for a few phases but eventually cleared into the Tring half with a long kick by Callum Mc. Tring returned the kick from their 22 but did not find touch. Instead they found Joe H who countered swiftly and strongly as usual, linked up with the rest of the back line and a few slick passes later saw Edgar over for our first score. - No conv. 5-7
A period of very competitve rucks and mauls saw possession change hands but neither side gaining much ground. One of the Hitchin forwards was clearly getting frustrated with all of this and from a Hitchin scrum on half way Callum T picked up at 8 and in a Lomu like fashion ran over 3 or 4 defenders and scored. No conv. 10-7
Tring restarted but not 10. Following the scrum on half way and a series of rucks a good steal by Hitchin put pressure back on Tring only for the ball to be turned over because we did not commit enough bodies over the ball. Tring kicked into the Hitchin half where Joe H collected and returned the kick. An excellent chase turned the ball over at the ruck and some fine quick ball allowed Callum Mc to find a few gaps and break the line. A well weighted grubba behind the Tring defence allowed Kieren W to field the ball excellently on the deck manage a great off load to the supporting Edwin who span out of the tackle to score. No conv. 15-7
From the kick off followed a scrum. Callum T broke away again, however after not releasing following what was apparently a tackle Tring were awarded a pen. The kick found Tring in our 22 and from the line out a strong mauling pack worked their way over the try line. No conv. 15-12
A good chase from the kick off saw Hitchin renew the pressure on Tring. A kick to the Tring 10mtr line found Josh on the wing leading the chase. A Hitchin pen followed the breakdown. From the line out some good aggressive work from Adam C took the ball upto the 22. Quick service from Heinie to Callum. Joe H came steaming off his wing to take a long flat miss pass from Callum Mc to crash up the middle. Quick 3rd phase allowed Callum to find Tom A, who, on a sublime angle cut thru' again to gain more yards and off load to Kieren C who bust thru 2 tackles to score and convert. 22-12 and half time.
The second half started with Hitchin kicking to Tring. The pace was slower than the frenetic first and a series of rucks and mauls moved around the half way line. A deep kick by Tom J had Tring chasing back who conceded a scrum. Tring nicked one and cleared, Hitchin kicked for the corner again. A few lineouts followed as Tring tried to clear into the wind. However a number of not straights gave Tring all of the possession and more confidence. They worked their way up the pitch with some very good mauling and pick and drives ( boys take note! ) right up to our try line. A forward pass saving Hitchin when a try looked on. A long kick from the scrum found 3 Hitchin chasers wrestling with the Tring full back in his own 22. Somehow! He retained the ball and secured the ruck but Hitchin kept up the pressure and camped on the Tring 5 for several minutes. How we did not score I don’t know especially when you look at Amos' photos of Adam B only a gnat's away.
Tring did manage to clear and from a scrum on their own 22 ran the ball thru their backs up to our 22 - a few desperate tackle attempts on the way!
Only 8 mins remained and a Tring pen saw their forwards stopped just short of the line. From the scrum Hitchin cleared but did not find touch. Tring countered and scored with men to spare. + conv. 22-19
From the restart Tring cleared to give Hitchin the line out on half way. Tring stole another one and from 1st phase put their backs into space and scored with only 2/3 mins left. 22-26
Full time.
Gutted!!
For the neutral a really great game of rugby, for the rest of us a game we had won but failed to control in the last 10-15 mins.
I guess some of the boys would rather forget this game but we should remember it for the following reasons;
(i) to know what it is like to lose in that way so that we don't do it again.
(ii) to have witnessed the Doogie 'Campese' hitchkick.
(iii) to see 3 fantastic team tries.
(iv) to remember THAT handoff by Kieren C.
