Sat 25 Feb 2023, 14:30
Saturday 25th February 2023
RFU League Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex
Hendon RFC 26-45 Tabard RFC
Hendon injuries prove costly in the closing minutes.
Tabard, playing down the Hendon slope in the first period, took the lead in this close match after 25 minutes with a well worked backline move resulting in a converted try.
Hendon responded immediately with Rob Casey outwitting the Tabard defence, passing the ball to Chris Kiyingi to score with fullback Jack McIlroy converting 7-7.
With halftime looming Hendon sat in the Tabard 22 when Rich Roberts made a blindside break with a 3 to 2 overlap advantage and a score on the cards. However, excellent defence from Tabard knocked the ball loose from the final pass and was collected by the Tabard wing to run the length of the pitch for an easy score to put Tabard ahead 7-14.
From the restart Hendon forwards were up quick to contest, take possession to set up a maul to the try line with Nick Pope scoring to go into the break at 12-14.
The restart from Tabard proved costly for Hendon as a defensive kick was gathered by the opposition backline to move the ball and score through a retreating Hendon defence 12-21.
Yet again the home outfit came straight back with Rossa Dooley gaining the ball to charge up the slope for Kiyingi to drive through to score with McIlroy converting putting Hendon back in touch at 19-21. Tabard midway through this period put Hendon under pressure once again with a drive over the try line to score out wide to take a 19-26 lead.
Into the last quarter it was winger Myles McCarthy to give Hendon a much needed score as a maul set up by Captain Nick Andrews drove to the Tabard line with McCarthy finishing as McIlroy converted and Hendon level with a bonus point try at 26-26 on 30 minutes.
Then disaster for Hendon as Tabard attacked again to score but leaving two players injured and unable to continue and, after earlier injuries, all Hendon replacements had been used leaving them finish the match with 13 players.
Into the last 8 minutes this proved to be a bridge too far as Hendon defended bravely but Tabard found the gaps to run in a further two tries after what had been an evenly contested encounter to finish with a 26-45 score board.
