Sat 16 Sep 2023
Saturday 16th September 2023
RFU Counties 2 Herts/Middlesex
Hendon RFC 14 - 17 Saracens Amateurs RFC
A new-look Hendon squad containing 10 recruits played together for their first competitive League match of the season against an established Saracens outfit.
Quoted new Head Coach Will Wheeler, “We are all still getting to know each other and finding out in a competitive environment just how all the players perform together much was learnt in our first outing ending with a narrow result that could have gone either way. There is no doubt that we have recruited well during the Summer and must now improve as a team”.
Saracens were first on the score sheet, playing down the Hendon slope they went ahead after five minutes of play with a well-worked backline move to score a converted try 0-7.
With the downhill slope giving an advantage to the visitors, Hendon continued for much of the first period defending their territory. Then an attacking move by Hendon’s Rob Casey was cleared by the Saracens fullback with a long kick back into the Hendon 22 to set up the away outfit to run in their second converted try to go 0-14 ahead.
Then excellent defence from Hendon, especially by newcomers Saxton Stout and Connor McGillicuddy prevented further scores as Saracens applied pressure from all quarters up to the halftime whistle.
Into the second half, Hendon looked a different outfit with the players bedding in as a team and now with the advantage of the “Slope”.
Within minutes of the start Hendon forwards led by captain Nick Andrews had positioned in the Saracens red zone and from the maul scrum half Rich Roberts collected from McGillicuddy to feed Cian Hynes on the burst to score under the post, with Hynes converting to close the score to 7 points to 14.
Although Hendon now had more possession, they conceded a penalty with the Saracens fullback kicking from over 40 metres to convert and go 7-17 ahead.
Undeterred Hendon were back into attack with a long kick from Hynes for Hendon backs Casey and JT Moncher to disrupt the Saracens defence with Roberts going blind with another new Hendon signing Tom Barrie to crash through the defence to score with Hynes converting 14 -17 and time enough to push for the win.
Saracens then defended superbly but conceded a late penalty. A long kick to the Saracens corner was required but although going into touch in the air, the ball unluckily curled back into play and Hendon lost the opportunity to turn the match in the last minutes but finished with a consolation single bonus point on their first League game of the season.
This Saturday Hendon First XV are at home to Brunel University whilst Hendon 2s entertain Enfield Ignations both with a kick-off time of 2.30 pm
