Welcome to Hitchin Rugby Limited Login Bookmark us!
Hitchin Rugby Limited

 

3rd Team v March Bears Rugby Club - Away Cup Draw on 2 Apr 2011

Published on Monday, 4 April 2011

March Bears 13 – Hitchin 3s 14

A great game of rugby that had just about everything, including a 60min injury stoppage (details to follow) but when you travel this far for a game you want to get maximum value so after a 9 hour round trip (with game in the middle) the Hitchin 3s returned, to a closed club house, victorious in what was a very close game.

 

Sometimes the score line doesn’t reflect the game, with this cup tie settled by just the 1 point both sides would agree the game was just as close……

 

With March’s 1st team having the luxury of both a forward and a back coach (wow!) it was obvious from the start that they were going to be a well drilled unit. The opening 15mins of rugby proved this and, on a very windy day, they used the conditions to their advantage and kept Hitchin pinned in their own 22. However some strong defence, from forwards and backs, prevented any early score……already Ian ‘Vagazzle’ Thompson was leading the back line (Ed ‘beard watch’ Bellamy and Sam Underwood) into every tackle and ruck. The pressure continued from March and, probably deservedly but definitely with the luck of the wind, they finally scored in the corner to open their account. A tricky conversion scored (note how important kicks are going to be in this game………) and it was 7 nil to the March Bears.

 

Hitchin 3s however came back hard, Captain Phil Hobbs leading the charge and marshalling a strong pack and ensuring good ball for the backs. With Rob Willoughbooby, back for his first game in over a year, at 10 there was always a sense of something going to happen and the communication (OK shouting) was just what the Hitchin team needed.

 

I won’t dedicate to much time to the next ‘incident’ of the game, however all that needs to be mentioned is the self control of our own Prison Ryan who, under unacceptable provocation, just about maintained control and proved that ignorant people are best dealt retribution on the pitch…..a lesson for all who play and watch rugby.

 

By now the Hitchin side were starting to show their class, a phase of 6 or 7 rucks….all the forwards and backs involved with the ball moving from each side of the pitch (oh how Mr Marshall would have been proud) finished with Michael Painter entering the line at considerable pace……..enough to take him the final 5 mtrs (and 3 March players) over the line…..Hitchin were back in it.

 

With no dedicated kicker on the pitch Max Weatherhead (the speed machine) decided to show everyone yet another reason why he is the all round back and slotted the conversion over (against the wind), all square and 10mins of the first half to go.

 

The Hitchin pack continued to compete well, front row of Lex, Tommy Tidey and Aaron Johnson were solid (yes solid!) in every scrum……..the second row of Pumba and Capt Hobbs helped this become a clear advantage and it was only a couple of ‘questionable’ early strikes by the March no.2 that prevented more than the odd win against the head.

 

The pressure (wind assisted) from March didn’t drop, with some well worked moves (must be that backs coach…..) they continued to ask questions, however the Hitchin backs…….. Ryan, Willoughby, Painter, Howard (Ross), Max and Kieran (yep…..still in the backs but watch this space) all made good hits and ensured that the movement of the opposition didn’t unsettle them.

 

Right before half time a penalty (only kickable due to the wind conditions) was converted well by the March No. 10, who was having a string all round game and the half ended 10-7 to ‘The Bears’

 

Hitchin knew this game was winnable……..and the wind was now in their favour.

 

The second half started in much the same way, March were probably the more aggressive but this was soon put right by Aaron…….at the time we didn’t know that this was likely to be his last ‘smash’ of the season so it is worth savouring……….a high kick from March was collected by Aaron just inside the Hitchin half, as he turned and set off the March winger decided that he was going to ‘meet’ Aaron and attempt a tackle……….now I do have an A level in Physics but even that wasn’t needed to work out that …..object A (Aaron) at 23+ stone…..running at object B (March No. 14) and I’d say 10 stone when wet was not going to be difficult to call………one almighty smash and it was game over for the March 14 and ‘bizarrely’ a penalty to March (I never will quite figure that out)………….penalty kicked and made……March 13 – Hitchin 7

 

From the re-start the game took an unexpected turn, Lex took the ball well…..offload to Ed (beard looking more ginger than black) and then off load to Aaron……..then ‘snap’ …….the following 60mins consisted of:

-         Aaron lying on the floor wrapped in foil (120mins gas mark 8)

-         The slowest ambulance in the world

-         Two teams trying to keep warm

 

So……gas and air later, a double break for Aaron and it was game re-started with a scrum……..and then another scrum……and another!! (see when you stop for 60mins things get stiff!)

 

By this stage the adjacent football match for the March local side had finished (I mean it was the evening by now!) and the crowd at the side had decided to ‘inspire’ the Hitchin side with some misplaced jeering, none more so than our very own Essex boy ‘Vagazlle’ who (new undershorts on as the old pair were chaffing!) decided that he was going to ‘end’ every March player he came across…..to good effect.

 

Aarons injury had meant Kieran was home again in the forwards, Pumba stepped up into the front row (still strong part of the Hitchin game) and Robert King was on in the centres. The break however had proved too much for the ‘delicate’ Rob who made way for David King but that didn’t impact the Hitchin game plan and the team pushed forward.

 

With 3mins to go the deserved break through came, Adam Howard (back from travelling at last and having lost his ‘excess’ weight) was back at 9 for this final period and released a pass to Rob King who put Painter (yes him again…..) in through the March defence and a score in the corner. Two things were confirmed at that point……1. Painter can score if he doesn’t kick the ball away !! and 2. Rowdy pitch side supporters tend to shut up when the opposition team take lead…….well have the chance to!

 

Step up David King, boot freshly taped and ready to let rip…….Conversion to put the team 1 point ahead ridiculously far out and 5mtrs from the touchline…….no problem, points earned and the win was on.

 

With only 3mins to play and a one point difference both sides were a mixture of anxious and nervous, good tackles and a few more scrums took the game into the last play…………followed by a penalty (within range) to March (oh dear!)

 

The March 10 stepped up, he’d played well all day but the final kick (which took an age) sailed wide and with a blast on the whistle it was a good Hitchin win.

 

So lots learnt today, bad luck on Aaron and the team wish him well. They also wish that Painter would run with the ball more often…….he does score when he doesn’t kick it away !!! (I think you get the point on that one now)

 

Man of the match was a tough call as everyone played well, however for sheer determination and skill hitting breakdowns it went to Ian Thompson (Vagazzle) ……his response was quite humble “Oh…..shut up !”



Team David King, Thomas Tidey, Aaron Johnson, Richard Lucas, Philip Hobbs, James Drury, Samuel Underwood, Ian Thomson, Ryan Colclough, Rob Willoughby, Ross Howard, Ryan Bloomfield, Kieran Barringer, Max Weatherhead, Michael Painter

Subs Mark Tidey, Edward Bellamy, Robert King, Adam Howard

Scores T: Michael Painter (2) C: Max Weatherhead (1), David King (1)

Player(s) of Match 1. Ian Thomson League Tables

 

 

Bookmark with:

What are these?


Find us on Facebook Find us on Twitter
Hitchin Rugby Limited, King George V Playing Fields, Old Hale Way, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 1XL England, Charity No. 1159772
enquiries@hitchinrugby.com T: +44 (0)1462 432679