Sat 5 Feb 2022
Saturday 5th February 2022
London League 3 North West
Hendon RFC 62 - 15 Finsbury Park RFC
Hendon dominated in 2nd Period after a nervous start.
Hendon commenced playing up the Hendon slope and against a strong wind resulting in Finsbury Park securing an early penalty and an overlap try in the corner to go 0-8 into the lead after 5mins. As Hendon continued to defend winger Will Theaker collected a loose ball on the Hendon 22 to run the pitch and touch down in the corner for Hendon’s 1st try 5-8. Hendon after 15 mins had re-gathered with the forwards now in control as flanker Conor Bowler carried to the visitors 5 metre line, who conceded a penalty for Cian Hynes to slot over 8-8. It was Bowler again to make another carry with fellow flanker Rossa Dooley to finish a Hynes converted try as Hendon got into the lead after 20mins. 15-8. Hendon continued to push up the Hendon slope again with Theaker collecting in defence a long kick from Park to run the pitch to score a Hynes converted try 22-8 on the ½ hour. A lapse in the Hendon defence saw Park take the initiative with a backline move just before the interval to score to close at the turnround at 22-15.
Into the 2nd period and Hendon took control with the wind behind and slope advantage. After 10 mins a long kick to touch by Captain Hynes gave Hendon attacking advantage with a scrum on the Park 5 metre line with a 2nd attempt pushover with No8 Chris Kiyingi dropping on the ball to score a Hynes converted try 29-15. Midway through another attacking move by the Hendon backline saw fullback Hynes make the extra man to score in the corner and then convert. 36-15. Minutes later and winger JT Moncher took a long pass from Rob Casey to score a Hynes converted try 43-15. Then perhaps came the try of the match when another wind assisted long kick was chased by centre Robby Burrell and as the Park defender attempted to clear, Burrell tackled and collected the loose ball to score an individual move as Hynes converted for Hendon to forge ahead 50-15. It was winger Theaker for his 3rd try from the Hendon 22 to run through the Park defence and score in the corner. 55-15. Finally another Hendon pushover from the forwards with the 2nd row combination of Mike Culhane and Ted Arnold in control with Kiyingi scoring a Hynes converted try at 62-15 and 5 valuable league points for Hendon.
This Saturday Hendon are at home against Royston for a 2.30 pm kick off.
