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London & SE Divisional Junior Vase
The Hedgehogs ate through to the semi-finals of the Junior Vase, following a 22-0 victory away at Sitingbourne RFC
Hitchin took some time to shake the long journey from their minds and bodies.
Play swung back and forth between each of the five-metre lines and several promising movements ending in knock-ons. A penalty attempt by Hitchin falling just short and to the left of the posts.
It was 20 minutes into the game before the visitors managed to impose enough continuous pressure on the Sittingbourne line for Ryan Arbon to go over from 3 metres for a try converted by Ben Wiggins.
Sittingbourne retaliated with a good back play only for the final pass to be knocked on.
Sittingbourne started the second half strongly, getting to within 6 metres of the Hitchin line, but a solid scrum and deft box kick saw play move to the Hitchin 10-metre line.
Several penalties against Hitchin resulted in Hitchin having to work the ball out of defence on their own 5-metre line.
Captain Seam McGinnity had to go off injured after 10 minutes but this didn’t disrupt the team much ,and the forwards continued to put pressure on the Sittingbourne line.
A yellow card against Sittingbourne swung the momentum decisively in Hitchin’s favour, with James Bolter held up over the line but from the resulting scrum he finished it off with a try. The conversion going wide.
Hitchin now gained some confidence, and a great run by the backs from defence was only halted by an unfortunate forward pass.
A strong run by winger Will Rooney was stopped yards from the Sittingbourne line but Dan Wiggins following up picked up the ball to go over for an unconverted try.
Sittingbourne were unable to capitalise on a yellow card against Hitchin, who completed their try tally with Jonathan Whitby finishing off a move from their own half, which involved Ryan Arbon Fred Rooney, and James Bolter
A hard fought win.
Team Sean McGinnity, William Sale, James Akrill, Matthew Trussell, Nick Panton, Ryan Arbon, Frederick Rooney, James Bolter, Daniel Wiggins, Benjamin Wiggins, Elliot Gibson, Carwyn Morgan, Jonathan Whitby, William Rooney, Alistair Southward
Subs Thomas Spratt, Adam Shaw, Pierre De Rancourt, Jonathan Welsford
Scores T: Daniel Wiggins (1), Ryan Arbon (1), James Bolter (1), Jonathan Whitby (1)
C: Benjamin Wiggins (1)
The league: Herts/Middlesex 1