Middleses RFU Vase: Hendon 28 London Scottish Lions 19

Phil Smith praised Hendon after they ended the season by lifting the Middlesex RFU Vase on Saturday.

The Greenlands Lane outfit, who finished third in Herts/Middlesex One, beat Herts/Middlesex Two champions London Scottish Lions 28-19 in the final.

It was no mean feat against a Lions side who finished their league season with a18 wins from 18 matches and director of rugby Smith was thrilled with Hendon’s Vase win.

“I am so proud of the lads who followed the game plan to beat the best team we have played this season,” he said.

“London Scottish will most certainly be promotion contenders in Herts/Middlesex One for next season, but for now we are number one and proved it with the whole team, including replacements, playing their part without exception.”

Cian Hynes kicked Hendon into an early lead with the skipper converting a penalty opportunity following an infringement from Lions.

Though London Scottish then took the advantage with the game’s first try, an unconverted score from Chris Kiyingi saw the Greenlands Lane side lead 8-7.

Again, though, Hendon fell behind and trailed 14-13 at the break, even after Will Theaker crashed over for a try that went unconverted.

The Greenlands Lane outfit began the second period brightly with Kiyingi dotting down for the second time in the match to give his team an 18-14 lead.

The game continued in a tit-for-tat manner, with Lions regaining the lead once again with an unconverted try.

That, however, proved to be their last score of the game as Hendon eventually pulled clear to triumph.

A penalty from skipper Hynes put the Greenlands Lane side two points clear after Scottish were caught offside.

Kiyingi then completed his hat-trick with Hendon’s fourth try of the match to put them two scores clear of the Lions to lead 28-19.

From there, it was a case of game management for the Greenlands Lane outfit as they held on to win.

And lifting silverware in their final match was a fitting end to the term for Hendon.