March 2009
7th March 2009
Hendon won this crucial match against promotion rivals Wasps Amateurs, having lost to them back in September, the only League loss of the season to date.
Head Coach Nick Lovett said that this had been the hardest League game played this season. He praised the attacking flair which brought four more tries but more particularly he was pleased with the defensive effort when Wasps made a strong comeback in the Second Half singling out for particular praise, full back John Paul Cremin who put in two try saving tackles. In the first half playing up hill a Lee Linale break on half way put No 8 Kosy Mutuma through and good movement saw winger Anthony Anyim go over in the corner. Lee Linale converted from the touchline. Minutes later centre Matt Carter broke through Wasps defence but was stopped short. However, from the maul hooker Joel Curry dived over for the try. Linale and Curry then combined again for a third try and with the conversion Hendon were 21 - 0 up.
Wasps came back strongly and just on the stroke of half time following a five metre scrum their forwards crashed over in the corner.
Now playing uphill, Wasps attacked constantly and were rewarded with two more tries but with only one conversion they trailed 21-17. Hendon then missed a penalty but in the last 10 minutes our fitness showed as the forwards started to take control. A Wasps scrum almost on their line was disrupted and Jamie Connolly, flanker, pounced on the loose ball to score with Linale converting again from wide out. There was still time for Hendon nerves to be shredded as Wasps mounted more attacks leading to another unconverted try. However, the last few minutes were played out in Wasps half to the end of an exhilarating game of rugby between two committed and skilful teams.
14th March 2009
FIVE MORE TRIES BUT ERROR COUNT TOO HIGH IN 15 - 32 WIN AGAINST UXBRIDGE
Hendon were always on top in this match but handling errors particularly in the first half meant that Uxbridge had the first scoring chance with a penalty which came back off the uprights. On 25 minutes however, Tommy Middleton broke through to claim the first points with a well worked try. Lee Linale converted. Uxbridge hit back on 35 minutes with a charged down clearance kick from defence resulting in an unconverted try but a diagonal run by Tommy Middleton enabled him to give a scoring pass to No 8 Kosy Mutuma. This was unconverted and so the half time score was 5 - 12.
Four minutes into the second half saw Lee Linale kick a penalty and that was followed soon after by another break from Tommy Middleton who gave a scoring pass to fellow centre, Michael Blake. With another conversion from Lee Linale this made the score 5 - 22 but then a Hendon knock on was gathered by the Uxbridge winger in his own 22. He then ran the length of the pitch unopposed to score in the corner. From the restart Hendon were on the attack again and from an Uxbridge scrum they took the ball against the head for Kosy Mutume to pick up and give the scoring pass to scrum half Wolfie Wolfgram. This try was not converted but from the restart Tommy Middleton chased down a kick ahead gathered and gave another scoring pass to replacement winger Buzz Nunez who scored with his first touch of the ball. Uxbridge were not finished however and scored their third try in the last seconds after Hendon were caught offside.
28th March 2009
100th TRY OF THE SEASON BRINGS WIN AGAINST MILL HILL AND CONFIRMATION OF POSITION AS LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
In a local derby the form book does not count and this was a hard fought match between two teams at different ends of the League Table. Although Hendon were always in control Mill Hill's spirited performance kept their points tally to a minimum.
Playing up hill in the first half, Hendon were confined to playing in the middle of the pitch rather than their opponents 22 where they could do some damage. After a penalty miss by both sides Hendon went ahead in the 25th minute when Second Row Luke McEneny gathered a loose ball and outsprinted the defence from half way to score in the corner. Lee Linale was unable to convert a difficult kick into the wind. Mill Hill then missed two further kickable penalties, and then just before half time Wojtek Wolowicz on the Hendon wing was stopped just short of the line after the first really successful break of the game by the Hendon threequarters. From the ensuing ruck Kosy Mutuma drove for the line but the ball was dislodged as he dived to put the ball down for a try.
Minutes into the second half Lee Linale converted a penalty, which was matched 10 minutes later by a successful penalty from Mill Hill. With the score at a close 8 points to 3 Hendon's defence was strong and player coach Paul Carrol came on as a replacement prop to ensure that there were no lapses of concentration in such a tight game. Hendon's defence kept Mill Hill well away from their line and the forwards started to take control. In particular Frankie Light was stealing ball almost at will in the line-out but all the possesion could not be turned into points. Until, that is Lee Linale chipped over the Mill Hill defence into the corner, the Mill Hill winger hestitated but Bobby Neame the Hendon winger did not and touched down to make the game and the League safe.
Keeping the pressure on with strong defence
Some sombre faces on the touchline as the tension mounts
%20Mill%20Hill%20web%20size.JPG)
Luke McEneny scorer of the 99th try of the season
Lee Linale Captain on the day gave his all.
RFU.com 
Search
