Playing into a very strong wind, Hendon claimed their 1st penalty after 4 minutes, but the wind took it wide. This season's injury jinx hit again when in the tenth minute 2nd row forward, Tony Connor clashed heads and retired with a head wound. Soon after Hendon conceded a 5mtre penalty and with the pack not settled after the replacement, they were turned allowing a breakaway into the corner for an unconverted try.
Using the wind to their advantage on the half hour, Ilford ran in an easy try from the 22, with the player running round Hendon's defence as they stood still. Then Hendon's fullback Cremin kicked a long ball upfield, which was poorly defended and Hendon were awarded a 5mtre scrum. Dave Connell picked up but was held up over the line and the same heppened at the next scrum to Kosy Mutuma. However, from the 3rd scrum winger Charles crashed through to score making it 12 points to 5 at half time.
Into the second half it was Hendon camping in the Ilford half of the pitch and after 8mins Ben Linale had kicked 2 penalties for a 12-11 scoreline.
Hendon were not finished as Linale slotted over another penalty with 5mins to go 24-17, but again Hendon ran out of time as the final whistle blew with them attacking on the Ilford 5mtre mark.
Saturday 26th September 2009
Kilburn Cosmos 29pts Hendon 26pts
Hendon, having lead the game for the 1st hour and with victory in sight, lost their way in the last 20 minutes to loose by 3pts.
Kilburn's heavier and more robust forwards soon dominated play but were stopped from scoring by excellent Hendon defence. Then after 15mins it was Ben Linale for Hendon who kicked his 1st penalty goal from 1/2 way. Soon after it was Linale again who collected the ball out wide to run round the Kilburn defence to score, converting to take Hendon 0-10 ahead.
Kilburn with tight forward play pushed over to score in the corner for 5-10 scoreline; but Hendon ran again from scrappy possession for centre Voitec Walowicz to score for a 5-15 lead. As 1/2 time approached Hendon's defence faltered and Kilburn scored a soft try to come back to 12-15. On the stroke of 1/2 time it was Linale again who kicked a long penalty to extend the lead to 12-18.
Into the 2nd 1/2 Hendons back division again penetrated the Kilburn defence after captain Eric Butler drove up field before releasing "Buzz" Nunez to score, creating an 11 point lead at 12-23.
Kilburn fought back and started to get on top with their forwards keeping the ball in hand and were rewarded with a penalty. Linale then slotted over another penalty but disaster struck as captain Eric Butler went off injured, leaving them disjointed with the defence leaking a converted try and then in the last minute Kilburn struck again to clinch the match at 29-26 giving Hendon no time for a late rally.
Saturday 19th September 2009
Hendon 29 Saracens Amateurs 38
For their first game following promotion Hendon were up against the experience of Saracens Amateurs, who finished 4th in this league last season, and they found the step up required even greater levels of concentration for the whole 80 minutes. Playing downhill Hendon were well ahead in the first half by 15 clear points having controlled the game well despite losing centre Alex Whittaker with a dislocated collar bone within the first five minutes of the game.
They then let in two tries with just minutes to half time to let Saracens back into the game. Worse was to come because they started the second half slowly and in a 10 minute spell let their opponents in again for three more tries. Suddenly they found themselves 38 to 15 points down and facing a cricket score against them. However, they rallied, went back to their game plan and wrested control of the game back from Saracens and scored two converted tries. But time ran out and the gap was too far to bridge in the time remaining.
Forwards Coach Dave Maskell studies the lineout
Hendon put pressure on in the scrum
Hendon started the scoring with a Ben Linale penalty, which was followed quickly by a try for Michael Blake converted by Ben Linale. After 20 minutes following a powerful maul from the Hendon pack Prop Paul Julian went over in the corner. Ben Linale just missed the conversion. Perhaps a bit of complacency and over confidence crept in because Saracens started to get some possession and with a fast set of backs opened the Hendon defence twice. Two more soft tries - one from a rolling maul following a line-out and one from losing possession on half way allowing a run in - were gifted before Saracens scored their third of the half with a well worked backline move which opened the Hendon defence.
Ben Linale clears the line from a penalty
The fight back started with a well worked score for winger Robert Nunez, converted from a long way out by Ben Linale followed by a captain's try from Eric Butler after some strong pick and drives from his pack. Sadly, it all came too late.
Head Coach John Ryan said after the game 'scoring four tries against a very good team tells us we now know we can compete in this league. But we must up our concentration and fitness levels to get the consistency required for a winning season'.
League Winners Trophy
On Saturday 19th September before the first League game of the new season the President of Middlesex, John Gunner attended the Club to present to 1st XV Captain Eric Butler the Trophy for winning the Herts Middlesex League Two last season.
Saturday 12th September 2009
The team travelled over to Hackney to play a side from Old Streetonians but with many of the 1st team squad not available John Ryan's task to select for the League game against Saracens Amateurs on the 19th was not made any easier. However, this was their first real test of the season and John said 'at least it blew the cobwebs out as the opposition pushed hard throughout and at least the team now have 80 minutes of full contact rugby under their belts'.
Playing uphill in the first half Hendon were ahead after just two minutes with stand-off Scott Handley jinking through the defence from the 22 metre line for a try converted by Ben Linale. Hendon continued to attack but were frustrated by the number of penalties given against them, whilst Old Streetonians relied on the rolling maul which Hendon were able to nullify. Into the second half it was centre Voitek Walowicz at centre who crashed over from a Hendon scrum on the 22 metre line and this was followed by Michael Blake crossing from a break by Kosy Mutuma. With another Ben Linale conversion Hendon ran out comfortable winners at 19 points to nil.
John Ryan's final verdict was 'This was a scrappy performance and next week will provide the real test!'
Saturday 5th September 2009
With the league season not starting until 19th September the First XV played a friendly game was against a side from Welwyn RFC, which was a total mismatch, which we won by 85 points to nil and which told Head Coach John Ryan very little about our readiness for the season ahead.
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