Finchley visited Old Hale Way for the Hedgehogs’ last league
fixture of the season
After just five minutes, the visitors opened the scoring with
their winger going around the outside to score a converted try.
They continued to have most of the possession and territory,
and followed up with a further score, as a dummy by the their no 10 from a scrum in the Hitchin 22 allowed
him to go over for another converted try
At the end of the first quarter, Hitchin were awarded a
penalty which they kicked for a lineout 8 m out from the Finchley line . They
worked the ball over the line but were adjudged to be held up, but from the resultant 5m scrum Hitchin scored, skipper James Bolter breaking away to cross
the line for an unconverted try.
Finchley struck back immediately with an unconverted try of
their own to restore their 14 point lead
Following good tight forward play Hitchin took play up to
Finchley’s 5 m line, and a quickly taken penalty saw them cross the line, but
again were held up. However, they kept
up the pressure for Adam Baird to touch down for 5 points
On the stroke of half time Finchley scored another
unconverted try to make the half time score- Hitchin 10 Finchley 24
Shortly after the restart Hitchin lost the ball in their 22
and poor tackling allowed Finchley to increase their lead with a converted try.
A loose kick by Hitchin was run out of defence by Finchley
and the move was finished off b their number 8 scoring under the posts for a
converted try.
A penalty to Hitchin on the Finchley 22 was kicked for a
lineout 10m out , and following excellent work by the forwards Carwyn Morgan
took a short range pass to score under the posts which was converted by Ben
Wiggins.
Hitchin further increased their score when a rolling maul
from a lineout crossed for hooker Tom Tidey to score an unconverted bonus try.
In the dying minutes Finchley had the last word when a Hitchin
kick over the top of the backs failed to be regathered , and was picked up by
Finchley who ran in for an unconverted try.
The game reflected the season’s performance, with periods of excellent
rugby, but with still too much inconsistency.
Hitchin play at Datchwoth on 21 April in the semi final of
the Herts President’s Tankard competition
Team Sean McGinnity, Thomas Tidey, James Akrill, Samuel Underwood, Nick Panton, Harry Elleston, Adam Baird, James Bolter, Rhys Gregory, Ben Wiggins, Charles Wood-Jones, Carwyn Morgan, Tom Harries, William Evans, Harry Cartwright
Subs Alex Wainwright, Lewis Pettinger, Adam Shaw
Scores T: Thomas Tidey (1), Adam Baird (1), James Bolter (1), Carwyn Morgan (1)
C: Ben Wiggins (1)
Player(s) of Match 1. Ben Wiggins
The league: London North West 3