Sat 23 Nov 2019
The best defence in the League and a hat-trick from Junior Farao power Hendon to another win.
The power and determination of the Hendon defence was overwhelming to leave London Scottish with their first pointless match in this League having amassed huge scores last season to win them promotion and only losing one game at the end of season to Hendon in the Middlesex Vase Final.
Captain Toby Ikwueke commented after the match “ we knew that the Scottish would be up for this match having lost their only game here at the end of last season and our preparation at training concentrated on defence; to our disappointment we lost both of our props in the pre-match warm up but our replacements in Paul Julian and David Jenkins did the job and congratulations to 2nd row Junior Forao for his hat-trick of scores. To date we have the lowest points against in the League which is huge testament to our defence training from our Coach Phil Smith”.
In the match Hendon were up the slope in the 1st period and from a penalty line out after only 5 minutes Junior Forao collected from the maul to power over the line for his first try 5-0. Five minutes later and Hendon’s forwards mauled from the Scottish 22 line but were stopped short. The Scottish scrum half miss passed to his fullback and Hendon scrum half Billy Burrell pounced on the loose ball to score with Dan Watterson converting for a 12-0 lead.
For the next 15 minutes Scottish penetrated the Hendon 22 with their backline moving both ways across the pitch to get back into the match but Hendon’s backs let no-one through with Nigel Toafa excelling for Hendon in defence. Nearing the half hour Hendon were again in the Scottish 22; a scrum to the defenders was pushed back by the Hendon pack with the ball coming out against the head giving Burrell another opportunity to collect and dive over for another individual try out wide building the lead to 17-0. Next up was Vytas Pavilonis controlling the Hendon maul and bursting from the 22 but pulled down on the try line to end the first half.
Into the second half Hendon wasted no time with the slope in their favour after a long penalty kick from Watterson to the Scottish five metre line, it was Farao collecting in the maul to power over for his 2nd score to go 22-0 up and the League bonus point in the bag.
Next score came from replacement and new player Jake Dunne with his first touch of the ball after he backed up a Will Theaker touch line run to score out wide and Hendon were now 27-0 ahead mid way through the half.
On the half hour and with light fading it was carries from Paul Julian and Pavilonis to put right winger Chris Kyingi in for a corner try 32-0.
With minutes left on the clock another Rossa Dooley take from the Scottish line out set up a rolling maul and Junio Forao collected and powered through the visitor's defence for his hat-trick and Man-of-the-Match award to finish the game at 37-0 and another valuable five league points.
This Saturday Hendon entertain UCS OB in the National Vase Cup 3rd round match at Copthall kick Off 2pm.
In the meantime Hendon’s 2nd string gained a 32-6 Merit League win against a strong Southgate 1st team with tries from Linale, Ryan, Vincente, Redmond and Captain Aiden Power.
Commented Hendon Coach Phil Smith, “ I am delighted to see the moves and tactics practiced at our training sessions on Wednesday evening’s at Saracens Allianz Park allowing both teams to enjoy and win matches in style.
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