Saturday 27th November 2021
London League 3 North West
Hitchin RFC 5-13 Hendon RFC
Hendon Win to deny the previously unbeaten league leaders a single league point.
Hendon produced one of the best performances for this season to achieve a remarkable triumph played in arctic winds to topple Hitchin, the league’s top team and favourites for promotion.
The match commenced with Hendon defending against the wind and after initial play in midfield, a long kick from the Hitchin 10 with the wind advantage put the home side into the Hendon 22 to set up a maul to overrun the visitors with an unconverted try in the corner, 5-0 after just 5mins of play.
Hendon regrouped immediately to return to the Hitchin 22 from the restart to hopefully stop any defence kicking that would be aided by the strong wind; Hitchin were penalised and Hendon 10 Jack Ryan kicked the penalty into the wind after 8 mins. 5-3.
Hitchin now used the wind for repeated field position, but Hendon’s handling excelled with No.8 Marius Von Moltke and Prop Mitch Hammond carrying from defence to the midfield with great support at the breakdown from their fellow forwards, which denied a frustrated Hitchin from further close attacks to see out the first period.
Into the 2nd half and Hendon now had their turn to take advantage of the strong northerly wind but it was Hitchin first on the attack, before Cian Hynes took procession to kick long to the Hitchin 22; from the line out won by Rossa Dooley to set up a rolling maul with man of the match Von Moltke scoring out wide an unconverted try to take the lead 5-8. A purple patch for the visitors continued after repeated interplay from forwards and backs orchestrated by scrum half Will Wildman as both Hendon wingers, Will Theaker and “Jibbs” Oki ran from defence to set up attacking mauls. It was midway through the period from a 5 metre maul centre Robby Burrell took control to crash through the Hitchin defence to add another score with an unconverted try out wide 5-13.
For the last 15 mins, it was Hendon defending as Hitchin tried all tactics to score but Hendon’s cover tackling was superb with a complete team effort to hold out the home outfit and with just minutes left it was the visitors back into attack to conclude a historic win against the much fancied League Leaders.
Commented Captain Hynes after the match “thanks to all the training sessions on Wednesday night’s at the Saracens Stone X Stadium from our 3 coach’s, we were able to execute many of our moves to both run the ball and defend to a man to bring off the win against a very powerful Hitchin”. Director of Rugby Phil Smith added “I am delighted for the whole squad with excellent team spirit, superb defence and taking their opportunities to score”.
This Saturday Hendon are at Home against St. Albans Kick Off 2.00 pm
