Hedgehogs remain in bottom four despite a battling display

Hitchin 11 Chiswick 18 Battling Hitchin just lost out in a tight and thrilling London Four North West game. The first half saw Hitchin playing into a brisk wind and Chiswick making the most of the elements to gain a lot of territory. However the Hitchin p

Hitchin 11 Chiswick 18

Battling Hitchin just lost out in a tight and thrilling London Four North West game.

The first half saw Hitchin playing into a brisk wind and Chiswick making the most of the elements to gain a lot of territory.

However the Hitchin pack, bolstered by Ed Bellamy and James Drury, pressured the Chiswick scrum. Nick Panton and Ryan Arbon competed well in the lineout to disrupt Chiswick's possession.

Hitchin's defence was heroic especially Joe Benucci, Vinnie Kevans and Rob Willoughby.

The home side managed to keep the visitors from crossing the line time after time, leaving Chiswick having to settle for six points from long range penalties.

Hitchin managed to enter the Chiswick half and Kevans' attempt at goal from a penalty into the wind just fell short.

Eventually Chiswick's pressure created an opening, allowing their winger to race through a score under the posts. Hitchin responded by keeping the game tight with powerful runs from Tom Lawman and Ian Charnley putting Chiswick on the back foot.

Phase after phase of play saw the home side battling into the wind. The intensity of the game occasionally escalated and one such occasion saw both teams lose a winger to the sin bin for 10 minutes.

The second half saw Hitchin show the same intensity and determination as the first period.

Fly-half Rob Vivian's boot was in good form as he pinned Chiswick deep in their 22. Continued pressure from Hitchin gave winger James Larman space to outpace his winger and score in the corner.

The Chiswick scrum-half then found a gap at the breakdown to dash through and good handling and quick support saw Chiswick score but fail to convert.

Hitchin battled back at Chiswick and continuous pressure saw them awarded two more penalties, kicked by Vivian, to bring the score to within seven points.

The physical nature of the game began to have an effect and Chiswick's prop had to leave the field for 10 minutes. On his return, his team-mate in the front row also wanted a 10-minute rest!

Chiswick played their way into the Hitchin 22, and quickly moved the ball wide to offload to their charging prop from five metres out.

Replacement Malcolm Fraser covered across to produce the tackle of the match, smashing the prop off his feet out of play behind the try line. Play continued for only a few more minutes before the whistle went for full time.

Hitchin are away this Saturday against top of the league Old Ashmoleans.

Other scores: Sawston 40 Hitchin II 3; Hitchin III 57 Royston II 12; Hitchin IV 38 Fullerians IV 0.