March has been a very successful month for Hampstead’s juniors as 10 teams took part in the Middlesex County Championships over three weekends, securing four pieces of silverware.
The club fielded two Under-sevens and two Under-eights sides on March 8 and all four of them reached their respective semi-finals, with the Under-eight B team contesting the final with Rosslyn Park.
They narrowly missed out in a close-fought match, but the Under-sevens triumphed in the plate competition.
The following weekend, the Under-nines and Under-10s took to the field. A lot of the members of the Under-nine B side were experiencing their first taste of competitive rugby, reaching the semi-final of the bowl tournament before being beaten.
Meanwhile, the A team smashed their way through the rounds to set up a final against Teddington, which went to extra time and was decided at the death as Teddington scored a last-gasp try.
Hampstead’s Under-10s teams very nearly set up a final against each other and, although the B team fell just short in the final, the A team won the shield competition.
The Under-11s and Under-12s had a lot to live up to in the third and final weekend, but they did not disappoint.
The Under-11s suffered an early setback but rallied and won the plate competition, while the Under-12s wrapped things up by securing the vase trophy, beating Enfield by four tries to one in their final.
Club chairman Simon Taylor said: “I can’t put into words how proud I am of the coaches and all the kids. Given we are only in our fifth season, to have every team reach at least a semi-final shows we must be doing something right.”
Meanwhile, Hampstead’s men’s first team went down 31-25 away against Old Merchant Taylors’ in their penultimate London North-West Division Two fixture, dropping to eighth in the table.
Dan Dimoline, Dave Corridan and Mike Redfern touched down for Hampstead but they conceded three tries in a five-minute spell before half-time, which proved to be costly.
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