UCS suffer disappointing loss at Hitchin
The new rugby season is now underway (pic: George Phillipou/TGS Photo) - Credit: George Phillipou/TGS Photo
Herts/Middlesex One: Hitchin 38 UCS Old Boys 3
UCS Old Boys suffered a disappointing afternoon in Herts/Middlesex One as they went down 38-3 at Hitchin.
Old Boys made an unusually fast start from the kick-off, putting pressure on the receiver and forcing a penalty.
Hitchin were marched back 10 for backchat and the penalty was duly converted by Corne Van Vurren.
Unfortunately, UCS made a mess of the restart, conceding territory to Hitchin.
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A knock on in the 22 allowed the hosts to put on a shove before their number eight broke away to score – unconverted.
Shortly after and Old Boys were again on the back foot after failing to deal with another kick, this time Hitchin went to the backs for a try under the posts.
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At 12-3 down, UCS began to make some inroads with better kick-return and strong running from Chris Bean and George Brown.
Hitchin’s ill-discipline afforded good field position, but Old Boys were unable to capitalise, too often losing the ball at set-piece or turning possession over with loose offloads and kicks.
Penalties gave Hitchin field position shortly before half time and after going through a couple of tight phases, their prop broke through off a short line, before crashing through the last line and over for a try.
UCS took the game to Hitchin for the remainder of the half and whilst they couldn’t chalk up more points, they took a numerical advantage into the break after the home number eight was yellow carded for repeated infringements at the breakdown.
Again penalties put Old Boys on the back foot after the break, with the Hitchin pack twice scoring after rolling mauls.
These tries were punctuated by another for the Hitchin backs, who broke through after a scrum.
UCS were game throughout the second half and enjoyed more possession and territory than in the first-half.
Too often, though, the play was forced or the ball kicked away and hard-won ball was given away too lightly.
The system the team are trying to play this season gradually came to the fore and proved effective with runners in the two position making good yards – Stefan Filip to the fore here.
This wasn’t to be Old Boys’ day, though, with the match finishing 38-3.
