Saturday 26th September 2020
Ready4Rugby
North London Middlesex Merit/League
Hendon RFC 13 - 9 Hampstead RFC
Hendon 2nds 9 - 8 Hampstead 2nds
Due to the Covid19 pandemic, the commencement of amateur 15-a-side Rugby Football as a full contact sport has currently been postponed until at least January 2021.
However, a new non-contact form of Touch Rugby has been devised by the RFU called Ready4Rugby (R4R), commencing with training games within a Club but now released to be played Inter-Club. This is seen as a way for players to keep involved with rugby, improve their handling and passing skills and maintain fitness over the coming months.
Hendon, along with other local North London Clubs, namely Hampstead, Finchley, UCS OBs, Mill Hill and Harrow have got together and will play each other home and away over the coming weeks before Christmas in a Merit/ League that hopefully will add a competitive aspect for the reduced rugby format of R4R.
Saturday 26th September should have been the start date of the new season for the RFU League and County Merit Table programmes but they for now has been replaced with the new NLM Merit/League. Games will be played by 2 x teams of 10 from each Club (5 Forwards and 5 Backs) with five rolling replacements for each team for 1 hour consisting of 4 periods. A try scored counts for 1 League point with no conversions allowed with 3 match points for winning and 2 match points for playing; if both teams per club participate a further bonus point is awarded. All the matches are officiated by the London Society of Rugby Football Union Referees
For the inaugural matches on the 26th two teams from Hampstead came to Copthall for a 1500 kick-off although many arrived early to watch the European Cup Semi Final in Paris on our big screen. Both Hendon teams scored more tries than their opposition as the score-line above shows which gave Hendon maximum League points of 11 with Hampstead taking 5 points. Elsewhere UCS OBs visited Mill Hill and Harrow played at Finchley.
Commented Phil Smith, Hendon’s DoR, “It was great to see all teams get their playing shirts on again and represent their Clubs in a competitive game of R4R; It was interesting to find out that as both games progressed players became much more serious, intent and competitive with game plans being formulated. I think most players went into these matches rather apprehensive but came through having bought into R4R for the weeks to come as the only way that they will be able to play competitive Rugby Football for the time being”.
David Gershlick Hendon's President said "I am really happy with the way this first game went and thanks are due to the London Society of Rugby Football Referees for also embracing this form of the game and helping the organisers to tweak the rules in the light of their experience of officiating the first inter club games. Thanks are also due to our Bar Manager, John-Paul Cremin for setting the clubhouse and bar up so that players and spectators could socially distance, enjoy table service for their drinks, watch the big screen and generally give everyone a safe environment".
On Saturday 3rd October, Hendon will be playing R4R away against Mill Hill.
Hendon mens' teams continue to train every Wednesday evening at the Saracens home ground of Allianz Park on the 4G pitch with the Womens' players training at the club on the same evening and on Saturday mornings.
New players are always welcome and can contact us through our website or Social Media pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
