UCS Old Boys debutants make instant impact in victory over Hitchin
Dylan Oudshoorn (left) scored a try on his debut for UCS Old Boys. Pic: Nick Cook/UCS Old Boys - Credit: Archant
Debutants Dylan Oudshoorn and James Attwood made an immediate impact, both scoring tries as UCS Old Boys returned to winning ways by beating Hitchin 36-19 in London North-West Division Three.
Early pressure led to a successful Rory Gibson penalty and New Zealand-born Dutch flanker Oudshoorn then crossed whitewash, with Gibson adding the extras from out wide.
Indiscipline cost UCS dearly as they conceded two penalties which allowed Hitchin back into the game, but a strong five-metre scrum enabled number eight Henry Walton to pick up and carry two tacklers over the line to score, while Gibson added the conversion.
Hitchin upped the pace after the break and were rewarded with a try but the Old Boys responded and, after sustained pressure by the forwards and backs, Attwood drove over for a third score.
UCS allowed Hitchin to hit back with another try, giving the visitors momentum in a match which should already have been won.
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But the Old Boys were determined to avoid a second successive defeat and, after some excellent rugby, Will McWhirter cut a beautiful line straight through the middle to score under the posts.
The hosts were now in the ascendancy, looking stronger as the game wore on, and the returning veteran fly-half Dan Stewart up Gibson for the fourth final score, which secured a bonus point.
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UCS coach Carl Bradshaw said: “It was very pleasing to get a win against a strong Hitchin side and furthermore, with a number of debutants in the side, the squad strength this season is a very pleasing thing to see.”
UCS face West Norfolk in the first round of the national cup this weekend. The third XV were also successful, beating Royston 26-19.
UCS Old Boys: Ghanem, Miller, Klimov (Myers), Attwood, Jayne, Boulden (Trotter), Oudshoorn (Chapman), Walton, O’Dwyer, Greany, Stephenson, Jacobs, Gibson, Stewart, McWhirter
