Hitchin started well , playing against the diagonal wind, and were awarded a penalty in the Actonians 22 and kicked to the corner . From
the ensuing lineout Sean McGinnity- captain for the day-crashed over for an
unconverted try.
Actonians came back into the Hitchin 22 and despite some good
defence work a missed tackle in midfield allowed Actonians to break through and
score under the posts, which ensured the conversion was a formality.
The visitors added to their score sending the ball along the
backs to score in the corner.
Hitchin kept on the pressure and a penalty on the Actonians
22 was kicked for a lineout on the 5 meter line. Hitchin won the ball and went over the line
but unfortunately knocking the ball on.
From the scrum Hitchin were awarded another penalty, which as their
forwards had the upper hand, they opted to take as a scrum. Hitchin went for the pushover and Actonians
conceded another penalty and the referee awarded a penalty try.
From the restart last year’s captain James Bolter made a
great run from his 22 and good interplay ended with winger Will Rooney scoring
in the corner, to takes 5 point advantage
Hitchin, playing with the wind in the second half, kicked to
the corner and the bounce was regathered by the chasing Hitchin backs who passed to winger Greg Ranson to
score an unconverted try.
After several forward drives from a lineout 5 meters out Ruiri
Shanahan got the touchdown for a try ,converted
by Ben Wiggins.
This brought the score to 29 – 12 in favour of the home side ,
but Hitchin seemed to lose concentration and allowed Actonians to come back and
score an unconverted try ,after a lot of good driving work in the loose by
their forwards.
A further try under the posts brought the score to 29 – 24
and with 2 minutes to go they scored again to level the scores.
Just after the restart Hitchin were awarded a penalty which
they kicked to the corner and from the lineout the forwards drove for the line,
with last year’s Captain James Bolter pulling Hitchin’s nuts out of the
fire. Ben Wiggins added the conversion.
The final whistle came moments later , for Hitchin
to open this yea’s campaign with a bonus point win
Team Sean McGinnity, James Bolter, James Akrill, Thomas Spratt, Matt Trussell, Frederick Rooney, Ruiri Shanahan, Armel Baufume, William Evans, Ben Wiggins, William Rooney, Jon Whitby, Thomas Attwell, Greg Ranson, Alistair Southward
Subs Chris Martin, William Sale, Max Stallard
Scores T: Sean McGinnity (1), William Rooney (1), James Bolter (1), Ruiri Shanahan (1), Greg Ranson (1)
C: Ben Wiggins (2)
Player(s) of Match 1. Sean McGinnity
The league: London North West 3