Sat 12 Feb 2022
Saturday 12th February 2022
London League 3 North West
Hendon RFC 75-10 Royston RFC
Hendon Young Guns fire the shots with the Regulars.
Both Clubs had to field either 2nd team players or for Hendon students stepping up to replace absent regulars; “I was delighted with the performance of our young lads, Charlie Scarr, Dobbie Wildman, Ted Arnold, Josh Lowes and Kan Cheng” commented Phil Smith, Hendon’s DoR. “ especially in the backline with four experienced players not available, these young lads stepped up and fitted in well and represent the future of our Club as we look forward to continue our progress in this League”.
The match commenced with Royston taking an early lead after a defensive error allowing the visitors to score a “soft” converted try to take an early lead 0-7. Hendon immediately responded as JT Moncher sped through the midfield offloading to Dobbie Wildman with returning player Harry Charles scoring his first try 5-7. Play now belonged to the Home outfit as stand off Rob Casey created the next opportunity with Wildman in support to offload again to Charles to score again and Hendon were in front at 10-7 after 10 mins on the clock. Midway through the 1st period Hendon Captain Mike Culhane opened up the Royston defence then releasing Charlie Scarr to score out wide 15-7. Hendon were now in control as another surging run by Moncher gave Hendon a further try at 20-7. But a spirited Royston response to the Hendon 22 as Hendon conceded an offside penalty slotted over by the Royston Fly Half 20-10 on the half hour. Hendon again responded this time with Back Row player Conor Bowler scoring with Josh Lowes taking over kicking duties to convert his first of many tries 27-10. Hendon were back in Royston territory with a Royston scrum on their 22 resulting in a great push from the second row players of Culhane and Ted Arnold allowing Nick Pope at hooker to pull the ball back with flanker Harry Charles picking up to crash through 3 defenders to score in the corner for a 32-10 lead at half time.
Hendon into the 2nd half with wind and slope in their favour were now on the front foot and although Royston put up a spirited defence they were no match against a dominant Hendon outfit. Another score by Charles after 5mins was followed with further tries by Moncher for his 2nd and an excellent backline move finished off by Lowes to convert his own try for a 49-10 lead. Then followed from the restart an individual effort from Casey as he collected to run from the Hendon 10 to the Royston 22 with again Man of the Match Charles in support to take the pass and score a Lowes converted try at 56-10. Into the closing quarter further scores followed from Rossa Dooley, with another great game in the Line Out, Chris Kiyingi from a pushover, both converted by Lowes 70-10. The game finished with Charles scoring his 5th try at 75-10 as Hendon recorded 13 touch downs to claim 5 League points to maintain a 2nd place in the League.
Hendon will be back in action on March 5th with a home match against Hitchin; The Copthall Club recorded a most successful weekend of Rugby with the 2nds winning their Merit League match away to Harpenden and on Friday night the Hendon Vets beating Hampstead Vets to reach the semi Final of the Middlesex Vets Cup.
