March & April 2010
Saturday 10th April 2010
Saracen Amateurs RFC 15pts Hendon RFC 14pts
This last league match of the season could so easily have seen the victory go to the visitors as even the Saracens' coach admitted after this tense encounter " we were lucky to get the result".
Hendon again without some key players because of injury, started somewhat nervously and conceded an early five metre defence scrum. The scrum was lost and the Saracens' back row picked up and charged over in the corner for them to take a five point lead. The match for the next 25 minutes saw Hendon on the defensive with two try scoring movements from Saracens being thwarted by winger Ralph Chapman. With 10 minutes to go to the break, Hendon started to get themselves into the game and after a back row move from Eric Butler and Jamie Connolly was stopped short with an illegal tackle a penalty opportunity was missed.
From the restart it was all Saracens again as a move from defence by the visitors saw the ball turned over by a Saracen forward who charged to the line to score a converted try and the lead stretched to 12 points to nil. Hendon hit back though from the kick off as Saracens tried to run the ball from defence the Hendon backs intercepted the pass to run in to score under the posts with Michael Blake converting to close the score to 12 points to 7. Without doubt this lifted the Hendon outfit, who took the game to Saracens. On 15 minutes from a line out on the half way line, the ball went the length of the back line for winger Alex Whittaker to set up fullback JP Cremin to finish off in the corner to level the scores. Blake from the touchline kicked the conversion to ease Hendon ahead by two points at 12-14.
With play now evenly matched Hendon unfortunately conceded an easy penalty that Saracens converted to retake the lead 15-14. Then in the closing minutes Saracens were penalised and Blake's long kick was just wide. However, it was not cleared by Saracens and Chapman caught the defender. Hendon turned over the ball and drove over the line with Captain, Eric Butler touching down but this was not seen by the referee and from the scrum Saracens defended well to keep Hendon out to the end of this exciting game.
Hendon now proceed into the Play Offs of the new end of season Middlesex Senior League Cup.
Team. Cremin, Whittaker , Walowicz (repl. Maskell),Owens, Chapman, Blake, Waters, Gilbride (repl. Towndrow), Gilbride T, Julian, Shanahan (repl. Connell), Mutuma, Connolly, O'Regan, Butler
Saturday 27th March 2010
Verulamians RFC 17pts Hendon RFC 26pts
Hendon maintained fourth spot in League after this win.
Hendon from the off looked impressive although after 7 minutes it was Verulamians who were the first to score with a charge down kick easily collected for their outside centre to run in an easy try under the posts. However, Hendons forwards were dominant on the field and and on 13 minútes Hendons pack rolled their ´first maul upfield, the ball was released in the opposition 22 and was passed slickly down the back line for Voitek Walowicz to score an unconverted try in the corner after avoiding two tacklers. Hendon from the kick off were back upfield and were awarded a 22 metre penalty which was kicked across the pitch by scrum half Waters, collected by Walowicz, passed back to backrow Brian O'Regan to score Hendons' second try. This was also unconverted and so Hendon led 10 points to 7.
Hendon then conceded a penalty which Verulamians slotted over to equalise at 10points all. But again the Hendon pack returned to the Verulamian's half and set up another rolling maul with hooker Chris Towndrow leading, supported by fellow front row Terry Gilbride. Hendon went over the try line for Captain Eric Butler to take the score to 10 points to 15. The first half finished with Hendon camped on the opposition line but staunch defending denied Hendon a further score.
Into the second half Ben Linale came on as a replacement for Chapman and immediately converted a penalty for Hendon to increase their lead to 10-18. Hendon then had a lucky break as two penalty attempts from Verulamians went wide. But on 20 minutes Linale's boot took them further ahead with a penalty taking the score to 10-21. In the next tense 10 minutes Verulamians mounted an impressive series of attacks with man of the match Walowicz stopping his opposite wing with some hard tackles. However, as they mounted a further attack, centre Chris Byrne charged down a Verulamian kick to score an easy try out wide taking the score to a comfortable10 points to 26.
In the last 15 minutes it was the home outfit in control as Hendon missed their tackles and allowed them to come back deep into their half. Persistence paid off as Verulamian eventually broke the Hendon defence with a mid field try to close to within nine points at 17-26. In the closing minute Verulamian looked the more dominant but conceded the penalty that ended the match. ´
Hendons last league game follows after Easter with an away game against League leaders Saracens Amateurs.
Team ;- Cremin. Walowicz, Owens, Byrne, Chapman ( repl. Linale ) Blake, Waters, Connor, Towndrow, Gilbride, Doyle( repl. Connell ), Mutuma, Kelly, O'Regan, Butler.
Saturday 20th March 2010
Hendon RFC 17pts Old Grammarians RFC 11pts
Hendon kicked off up the Copthall slope, conceded 11 points in the first half and got back 17 in the second half.
Although Hendon took the early initiative uphill, strong Grammarian defence kept them out. Then on their first attacking move an easy clearance by Hendon went wrong and Grammarian's wing collected to run in an easy try in the corner. This was not converted and after some inconclusive play from both sides Hendon´s Luke McEnemy at no 8 took the ball upfield with his pack rolling the maul. Old Grammarian's were caught offside and Ben Linale attempted a long 35 metre penalty which was just wide. OG's then resumed their attack and on 20 minutes Hendon were offside and the visitors went ahead by eight points. OG's then had Hendon on the backfoot for some time but could not penetrate the Hendon defence, until on the stroke of half time a drop goal pushed OG's into an 11 point lead.
From the restart, it was the home outfit on the attack. From a long downhill penalty kick, Aiden Doyle collected cleanly in the line-out enabling scrum half Ben Linale to set up a five metre maul. Front row Terry Gilbridewas driven over to score and a Linale conversion cut the deficit to 7 points to 11.
Midway through the half with OG's holding on as Hendon´s lighter pack pushed downfield, they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Instead of taking the easy goal, Hendon ran the ball and after the 3rd phase Hendon's front row Tony Connor crashed through to score. Ben Linale converted as Hendon eased ahead 14 points to 11. A further penalty to Hendon after 30 minutes was awarded on the OG's 10 metre. With the wind behind Linale chanced his luck and the kick sailed through to push Hendon ahead 17points to 11.
OG's came back but strong resistance by Stand Off Dermot Waters with some long kicks downfield shut off the opposition fightback. With minutes to go and only 6pts difference, OG's were attacking the Hendon line. Yet again it was Doyle who intercepted and carried the ball to half way. OG's then defended bravely as Hendon treid to add to their score to see out the game without further points on the board.
Team. Cremin, Chapman, Owens. Walowicz, Whittacker, Waters, Linale, Connor, Gilbride B, Gilbride T, Doyle, Connell, Vincente, Kelly, McEnemy.
Saturday 6th March 2010
Wasps Amateurs 24 points Hendon 12 points
Hendon once again were in control of a crcial League encounter, but let Wasps score breakaway tries whilst having two tries disallowed.
From the off, Wasps ran an attacking game, pushing the ball to their backline which was counteracted by Hendon's defence. Hendon's forwards then pushed Wasps back in both the set and ruck/maul moves but were unable to reach their line. After 20 minutes a loose ball from a turnover was collected by the Wasps' threequarters to run in an easy try and then convert for a 7 points to nil lead. However, Hendon were immediately back into attack with backrow forwards Eric Butler and Brian O'Regan excelling. In the space of just 10 minutes Hendon were over the Wasps' try line twice through flyhalf Michael Blake and Eric Butler in another forward rolling maul, but both were adjudged to be held up as the referee was unsighted at the other side of the pile up.
Then on the half hour another poor clearance from Hendon was collected by Wasps to run in another simple try on the wing for a 12 points to nil scoreline. But yet again Hendon drove back into the Wasps' 22 and a backline move this time was successful with centre Jamie Connolly going over for an unconverted try making the half time score 12 points to five.
Into the second half, Wasps collected from the kickoff and ran the ball wide to score a quick try converted for a 19-5 lead. Hendon changed tactics and ran the ball down the line with fine moves by scrumhalf Waters feeding Blake and Chris Byrne at inside centre. With this period in the Wasps half it was Hendon's Waters from a scrum five metres out to crash through in the corner to score an unconverted try 19-12 putting the away outfit back in contention. Kosy Mutuma then went close but was stopped short and with the last play on the clock it was the Wasps with the last score against the run of play with a win and nothing to show for Hendon.
This Sat Hendon are scheduled to play a friendly against local rivals Mill Hill who play one league below Hendon in Herts/Middlesex 2.
Team: Gilbride, Connell, Connor, McEnemy, Doyle, O'Regan, Mutuma, Butler (Capt), Waters, Blake,Byrne, Connolly, Walowicz, Kelly,Chapman
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