Sat 4 Jan 2020
Hendon started the New Decade with a convincing win and advance to the regional Semi-Finals of the National Competition.
With no rugby since December 7th 2019 , Hendon looked a “bit rusty” playing up the Hendon slope in the first period. Teddington, with a great tradition of previously reaching the Twickenham finals twice over the last decade looked the better team and kept the home side defending in their 22 for much of the first 20 minutes.
However staunch defence by all the Hendon outfit kept the visitors at bay, only conceding a kickable penalty giving Teddington a 3 points lead.
It was not until midway through the half that a great burst from defence by Hendon No 8 Donal O’Sullivan took them to the Teddington 22 and gave Hendon their first attacking moves over the gain line only to be held up and see play once again return to the their own half from long kicks. From the counterattack by Hendon Captain Cian Hynes, then again by fullback Dan Watterson Teddington infringed and that allowed Hynes to kick an offside penalty to even the score at 3-3 and Hendon were back in the match on the half hour.
In the next move Hendon had now shed the cobwebs of Christmas; Hynes' long kick upfield to touch was won by Rossa Dooley from the line-out setting up a Hendon maul with Paul Julian at the helm allowing the backs to spread wide with winger Will Theaker finishing off Hendon’s opening try in the corner, converted by Hynes making it 10 points to 3 at the turn round.
Into the second half Teddington now faced a setting sun and were playing up hill. They were put under pressure immediately from the restart as the high ball was knocked on. Scrum half Ross Williams from the Hendon scrum slipped the ball to Theaker on the burst to crash through the Teddington defence and score within a minute of the restart with Hynes converting and Hendon were 17 points to 3 ahead.
However, the visitors responded and again pegged Hendon in their 22 for a 10 minute spell which ended with a controversial penalty try being awarded to the visitors with two Hendon players receiving a 10 minutes sin binning.
But Hendon's resolve was now in full swing and attacking moves by Chris Kiyingi, Junior Farao and Vytas Pavilonis kept Hendon in Teddington territory, who conceded two penalties both kicked by Hynes as Hendon went to 23-10 with only 13 players on the park.
Back up to full strength and Hendon were in total charge with a try coming after a Theaker/Kiyingi interchange to Vice Captain Toby Ikwueke crossing the whitewash converted by Hynes for a 30 -10 now comfortable lead.
Man of the match belonged to O’Sullivan who broke through the visitors defence from midfield and set up the closing try by Ikwueke, converted by Hynes for a final score of 37-10 as Hendon march into the semi-finals on 8th February draw and venue to be announced.
Commented Hendon Coach Phil Smith, “I was delighted after the month lay-off with the team’s performance especially as we picked up a couple of injuries early in the first half. The second period saw us play in the right areas and execute strike moves when in the red zone”.
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