Sat 4 Feb 2023
Saturday 4th February 2023
RFU Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex
Barnet Elizabethans RFC 60-17 Hendon RFC
Depleted Hendon Suffer The Consequences
Having beaten Barnet 54-5 in December, Hendon likewise suffered in this re-arranged away fixture on this 6 Nations weekend when on the day all the odds were packed against them. Hendon had only 8 players available from the previous week’s winning squad with the balance made up of some players making their first appearance of the season. Coupled with that Captain Nick Andrews suffered a serious leg injury together with Dragos Ciocan side-lined with a broken rib and newcomer Josh Ord off with an ankle injury resulting in Hendon eventually reduced to 14 on the field. That aside Hendon put up a spirited performance but were outnumbered by a full Barnet squad who needed the win to maintain their existence in this League.
Barnet to their credit realised the potential and kept the ball wide of the Hendon defence to score 5 tries in the 1st period to go ahead 31-0; but Hendon kept up an attacking game and were rewarded after Barnet were penalised in their 22 for Hadi Al-Bassam to carry but stopped short of the line allowing scrum half Rich Roberts to gather and set up Rob Casey to make the break with JP Cremin scoring in the corner and Hendon were on the scoreboard at 31-5.
Into the 2nd half and Barnet were scoring first with a well worked try to go ahead 36-5; from the restart Hendon gained possession as Barnet conceded a scrum on their 10 won by Hendon with a determined front row effort coming from the inclusion of Liam Murphy coming off the bench for his first game of the season. Roberts then made the break through the Barnet defence pushing the ball wide down the backline with winger Mohamed Faiz scoring in the corner 36-10. Hendon could not cope as Barnet exploited Hendon’s defence to score twice again at 48-10 before midway through the period Andrew’s scored a pushover try converted by Cian Hynes 48-17. Andrews injury then followed leaving them down to 14 with both replacements already used but another score could give the away outfit a bonus point which was so nearly achieved with a series of Hendon attacks. The first move was intercepted by Barnet to score a breakaway try 55-17 followed by another attempt by Hendon as Faiz went over to score only to be tackled on the line and the try disallowed. The Final score went Barnet’s way to finish a miserable day at the office at 60-17 and nothing to show for Hendon.
This Saturday Hendon are home to promotion seeking London Scottish Lions.
