Hampstead Ladies’ second team narrowly lose out to Kilburn

Hampstead Ladies’ second team were narrowly beaten 15-12 by Kilburn on Sunday, despite two tries for Barbara Sike.

Kilburn took the lead, using their backs to good effect to get over the whitewash, and a second score was disallowed because the ball was dropped over the line.

But Hampstead defended well and, after stealing possession, they broke through the line before applying pressure through the forwards, and Sike eventually ran in out wide.

Fly-half Ruth Burns almost touched down early in the second period after intercepting a pass, only to be stopped just short – but Hampstead soon had their second try anyway as Sike got over the line again.

The pendulum swung back the other before the end, though, with Kilburn’s speedy prop dotting down to put Kilburn three points ahead, and that was how it stayed.

Meanwhile, Hampstead’s boys’ Under-12s travelled to Finchley to take on the host club and Harlequins at the weekend, and they won one and lost one of their showdowns.

The first encounter against Finchley was one-sided and Hampstead won by seven tries to nil – but Harlequins offered a tougher challenge.

There were notable improvements in Hampstead’s rucking and attacking play, and Wilkie Dent showed his awareness and vision with some quick pop passes when he was unable to advance himself.

Harlequins were hassled into a number of errors, but in the end they triumphed 6-0, having also beaten Finchley 10-0.