Saturday 12th October 2024
Herts/Middlesex Merit League South
Hendon RFC 12 - 29 Old Albanians Grizzlies RFC
OA’s were far from their Grizzlies name with some very experienced Ex 1st team players combined with a crop of up-and-coming youngsters. Hendon’s strength was in the scrum whilst OA’s had there’s in the backline, where this game was won. From the start Hendon were forced to concede their strength up front as OA’s commenced and played the entire game without a designated front row and hence uncontested scrums, giving the Grizzlies backs the advantage over a novice Hendon backline.
That said, the home outfit found the space to attack and keep The OAs pinned in their territory for long periods. However, Hendon could not penetrate their defence as many attacking moves went astray allowing the OA’s backs to kick downfield and set up their experienced right winger to cross the line for two tries on the 12th and 17th Mins to go 0-12 ahead. Hendon returned up the Hendon slope with carries from captain Nick Andrews and CJ McGillicuddy and midway through the first period Hendon flanker Malcolm Hokoza collected to score under the posts for Will Daley to convert for a 7-12 scoreline.
The Grizzlies came back with long kicks again to set up backline moves to collect a further two scores in the first period for a 7-22 lead.
On the turn round, it started with the home outfit downhill with Forwards Tom Sanders and Billy Yegon combining allowing centre Joshua Fotofili to burst through the excellent OA’s defence to score out wide, closing the deficit to 12-22. The game was for Hendon to score with all the forwards combined. Still, mistakes allowed the away defenders to clear their line time after time again giving another opportunity in the closing minutes for OA’s to finish off with a late try to end the match with a 12-29 away win.
This Saturday Hendon is home to Harpenden for another tough match.
