Middlesex Senior League Cup
Hendon RFC 32 pts Wasps FC 24pts
On 24th April 2010 Hendon took the honours and become the 1st holders of the Senior League Cup.
Some photographs are shown below but more can be accessed on this link pictures
Hendon gave a spirited performance to overcome League front runners Wasps, who kept up their onslaught right up to the final whistle. The home outfit could not have wished for a better start. With only three minutes on the clock, from a maul Eric Butler collected in the Wasps 22 and from a training ground move passed inside to centre Ryan Owens on the burst to break the tackle and score under the posts. Ben Linale slotted over and Hendon had a lead of seven points to nil.
However, Wasps responded with a surge upfield and from a rolling maul in the Hendon 22 pushed over for their No.8 to score an unconverted try. In this end to end encounter, Hendon minutes later were stopped short and Wasps were penalised for Linale to convert to take the score to 10 points to five. In only the 14th minute it was Ben Linale on the scoresheet again as a 3/4 move from midway went down the line and allowed him to touchdown in the corner for a 15-5 scoreline.
Hendon were now confident of their attacking ability and standoff Lee Linale making his comeback from injury kicked high and long which saw winger Alex Whittaker collect in the air, avoid the tackle and run for a splendid try out wide for Hendon to go 20-5 up.
Then with minutes to go to the half time whistle another Hendon attack was stopped and the Wasps winger saw a gap in the Hendon defence to run the length of the pitch and score in the corner 20-10. With only seconds left on the clock to the half time whistle, from the restart, Whittaker again took the high ball, passed to Hooker Chris Towndrow who pushed up into the Wasps 22. The ball went loose, was poorly fielded in defence and 2nd row Aiden Doyle picked up for Hendon to score, Linale converting for a turnround score of 27-10.
In the second half it was Hendon defending as Wasps attacked downfield, but Hendon's defence was solid especially centre Ryan Owens who excelled. However, in the end a crack in the armour was exploited by Wasps who scored a converted try to close the score to 27-17. Into the last quarter it was second row Tony Connor's turn to open up the Wasps defence and slip the ball wide to Hendon's backline with Ben Linale again finishing with a try in the corner for a 32-17 pts lead. Wasps continued to contest and were rewarded with another try from a maul in the downhill corner, which was converted to come back 32-24 with just two minutes to go.
As time ran out, Hendon were once again on the attack, but the sweetest sound was that of the full time whistle and Hendon and supporters were off to celebrate with a splendid new cup in their possession.
Perhaps the proudest man on the day was coach John Ryan who finally had some silverware to show for all the season's ups and downs, " If the boys put that sort of spirit and quality tackling as well as their backline attacks into effect next season then the next flight up is a definite option."
Saturday 17th April 2010
Middlesex Senior League Cup play off
Hendon RFC 15pts Old Millhillians RFC 13pts
Hendon qualified for their 5th final of a Middlesex competition since 2004/05 having only missing out in 06/07. They were winners of the Vase Competition in 07/08 and have been runners up three times in that competition. Having been promoted to Herts/Middlesex League 1 this season, finishing in 4th position, they will now meet up with promoted, second placed Club Wasps Amateurs in the new Middlesex Senior League Cup, part of the Middlesex series of Cup events.
In a very tight game with Old Millhillians, the Hendon victory was decided on the last kick of the game.
From the off Hendon were downfield and both teams missed penalties. It was soon apparent that Hendon's forwards were the stronger with OM's back line the quicker but Hendon maintained a forwards' game and OM's conceded penalties as Eric Butler's pack dominated. After 20 minutes Ben Linale slotted over two penalties for Hendon but then from a defensive error Hendon conceded a converted penalty on 35 minutes but finished the half with another Linale penalty to close the half at 9 points to 3.
In the second half Hendon's prop Paul Julian and second row Tony Connor were punching holes in the OM's defence but without putting points on the score board. Then OM's missed a penalty but from the Hendon defensive kick, OM's backline pushed the ball wide to score in the corner taking the scre to 9 points to 8. Midway through the half Linale converted another Hendon penalty to go into a 12 - 8 lead. Hendon's fitness was now being put to the test, their defence let them down with poor tackles to let the OM's No 10 weave through to score an unconverted try for the visitors to take the lead by one point. On the half hour after a boot upfield by winger Alex Whittaker, OM's were offside again and Linale converted for Hendon to retake the lead 15 - 13.
Then came the nail biting finish; OM's worked their way into the Hendon 22 and on the 39th minute were awarded a penalty to a dismayed Hendon outfit. But their luck held out as the OM's kick went wide and the final whistle was blown and Hendon were into another final.
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