Beaten Hitchin second from bottom
Fullerians 25 Hitchin 0 Hitchin went down to a well organised and confident Fullerians side despite their hopes of an upset. Fielding a side with few changes from the previous game against Hammersmith and Fulham, the Hedgehogs were confident of giving the
Fullerians 25 Hitchin 0
Hitchin went down to a well organised and confident Fullerians side despite their hopes of an upset.
Fielding a side with few changes from the previous game against Hammersmith and Fulham, the Hedgehogs were confident of giving the Watford side a testing 80 minutes.
As it turned out, despite a lot of commitment, the visitors failed to use what ball they had and made a few errors which Fullerians used to their advantage.
The first 15 minutes of the game were even but a speculative kick by the home side resulted in confusion in the Hitchin defence which allowed the home winger a run in for an unconverted try after 18 minutes.
This score stimulated the Hedgehogs into action.
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Some determined runs by scrum-half Carwyn Morgan and full-back Dan Squire together with some tactical kicking by captain Robbie Vivian gave the watching spectators some hope.
This pressure was shortlived when indiscretion at a ruck twice within five minutes allowed Fullerians to kick two penalties.
The 11-point difference remained the same until half time.
Hitchin's half-time team talk was geared around securing ball retention and breaking the gain line.
The second half saw the young Hedgehogs fighting to gain good, quick ball only to be denied by the robust defence of Fullerians.
Prop Mark Burgess was replaced by Ben Alsop, and Joe Benucci came off to allow the return of centre Jimmy Scott, who had been out injured since the county match versus Middlesex in mid November.
With Scott moving to centre, the pace of the game changed slightly but still Hitchin were being forced into playing catch-up rugby.
Luck was against them on a number of occasions and the game was over after two further converted tries were scored on the hour and then with 10 minutes to go.
The full-time whistle saw a dejected Hitchin side reflecting on what might have been.
Despite this reverse, new coach Rico Van Wyk feels that there is still a great deal of potential in the side which can be developed before the next league match at home to Finchley a week on Saturday.
Other scores: Hitchin II 0 Datchworth 21, Hitchin III 12 Black Horse 10, Hitchin IV 3 Hertford 41.
