Saturday 14th January 2023
RFU Counties League 2 Herts/Middlesex
Hendon RFC 61 - 12 Royston RFC
Convincing win for Hendon but still much to work on over the coming weeks.
Hendon were on the scoreboard 5 minutes into the match after Captain Nick Andrews carried to the Royston line passing to prop Kan Cheng to touch down for a Cian Hynes converted try 7- 0.
Immediately from the restart Andrews again broke the Royston defence offloaded to Rossa Dooley for a 50 metre run up the Hendon slope finding Chris Kiyingi to score for Hynes to convert Hendon's second try 14-0.
Midway through the first half, Royston were penalised and Dragos Ciocan kicked long to the Royston 22. From the line out Hendon mauled to the line with backrow Johnny Jenkins dropping over for the try in the corner 19-0.
However, Royston then came back with a kick over the Hendon defence by their stand off who chased down his own kick to score under the posts taking the score to 19-7.
Again from the restart, Hendon claimed possession through Hadi Al-Bassam and Nick Pope to pass to Kiyingi who finished with his second score and Hynes converting for Hendon’s League four try bonus point. Now leading 26-7 Hendon were not finished as with the last play on the half-time whistle after a splendid backline move from Jack Ryan to Ciocan ended with Rob Casey scoring a Hynes converted try 33-7.
Into the second period and it was Royston scoring first on the left wing after breaking through the Hendon defence 33-12.
However, Hendon now playing downhill with the wind soon took full advantage; from a 22 lineout, Dooley gathered and turned on landing to wrong foot the Royston defence for him to score with Hynes again converting 40-12. Soon Dooley was over again for Hendon after 20 minutes as a rolling maul was too strong for Royston to handle with Hynes converting 47-12.
Robby Burrell started the next score by chasing down the restart, setting up a Hendon maul with Al-Bassam breaking free passing to “returning from injury” scrum half Rich Roberts to score in the corner with Hynes again converting from the touchline 54-12.
Then in the last move of the match it was Casey scoring in the corner with Burrell converting from the touchline 61-12.
Commented Hendon’s head Coach Phil Smith “very pleased for the whole team on this win to establish our mid table League position but still have a lot to work on at training this week before we meet promotion contenders Ealing Trailfinders this coming Saturday.”
