Hitchin RFC 58-29 Dunstablians RFC
Hitchin 1XV played their first competitive match of the season, in the first round of the RFU Community Cup Counties 1 South Plate.
Centre Adam Miles opened the scoring after two minutes with a perfectly timed interception. His try was converted by Debutant Scrum Half Will Roberts.
Dunstablians responded 5 minutes later with a score in the corner, but Hitchin retained the lead as the try went unconverted.
Lock Matty Knight, playing against his previous club, collected an attacking lineout and offloaded to Captain Ruiri Shanahan, who finished from short range.
The visitors hit back again with a try in the right corner, converted from the touchline.
Hitchin extended their lead as a rolling maul approached the 5 metre line, and Fly Half Adam Shaw span out of two tackles to power over the line.
After 35 minutes Miles put through a measured grubber kick and Winger Jack Maydom won the chase to touch down the Hedgehogs' fourth try.
A lovely team try rounded off the half. 6 passes put Winger Harry Dowrick into space, and he drew the last defender before passing to Maydom to outstrip the cover defence and score his second try. Hitchin 29-12 Dunstablians.
Dunstablians started the second half with their third try, a missed tackle allowing a forward to break free and execute a two on one for a supporting runner to score.
17 year old Will Dormer, on his 1XV debut, set up the next try with a nice sidestep. From the ruck, Roberts dinked through a grubber kick for Miles to touch down.
After an illegal Hitchin clear out at a ruck, a penalty kicked to touch was driven over the line after a few phases.
In broken play from a Dunstablians clearance kick, Miles burst onto a pass from Maydom and beat three defenders to score under the posts.
Not content with a hat trick, Miles finished his fourth try from 50 metres, after Prop James Bolter turned scrum half and spotted a mismatch on the right edge.
Dunstablians applied pressure and sneaked over from a second quick tap penalty.
Hitchin added gloss to the scoreline with two late tries. Lock Sam Underwood marauded 30 metres up to pitch, generating the go forward for Winger Harry Dowrick to put on the after burners. From the kick off, Centre Simon Taylor broke loose and showed composure to draw the last defender, passing to Shanahan to finish the match under the posts.
Hitchin advance to Round two after an entertaining encounter. No matches next week, before the league campaign begins at Home vs Hertford 2XV.
Hitchin 2XV lost 47-12 to Letchworth 2XV, a team from a league above, in a friendly match at Letchworth.
Scores 
The league: Counties 1 Herts/Middx