05/02/2022
12 WINS ON THE TROT FOR HERTFORD
BY GED MURPHY
3 DAYS AGO
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https://www.hertfordrfc.co.uk/
COPY
Nothing dirty about this dozen.
Nothing dirty about this dozen.
A 44-5 convincing bonus point victory sees the boys in blue stretch to a 12 game win run and remain top of the league, on countback. Sevenoaks and Dorking are also riding high on 69 points whilst Hertford’s opponents this coming Saturday, North Walsham, remain just a bonus point win behind the big 3 but with a game in hand. It’s certainly all to play for in the run in.
Physicality and fitness have played a big part in Hertford’s success this season. This takes its toll on players and with the decision taken to rest some key individuals, including the ubiquitous Alex ‘Chabal’ Banna, the coaching staff must have had a twinge of concern when late injury also forced out the influential Kieran Forbes and resident venerable war horse Josh Corcoran.
This meant a less restful Saturday for Ollie Cain and the recently engaged (she said Yes) Kyle Lemon and recall for young Sonny Swift, in his first season of 1st XV rugby, and our esteemed front row Elder, JP.
It also provided an opportunity for ever patient, James Tan, to start at ho**er and get some of those bench splinters out of his back side.
Debuting, on the bench, was Aaron Bellow, who ‘crossed the floor of the house’ from OA’s citing the quality of the after match teas as the reason. A quick and powerful runner. Welcome to Hoe Lane
Maidenhead came to Hoe Lane for their first visit in league rugby, buoyed by a big victory against Tunbridge wells and a good win against Tring.
They certainly started in confident mood. After returning the Hertford kick off they worked their way up field and a deft grubber from the 10 led to a defense line out which they managed to turn over. Relentless press was the story for the next 20 minutes. This was answered with resolute defense from Hertford but efforts to escape the siege were thwarted all too often by basic errors.
A forward pass from one of these escape attempts gave the visitors a 22mtr scrum. Good retention eventually saw 50 cap winger Chris Bart round the Hertford cover to score in the corner. The kick was wide.
"At least that gets us back in their half" was heard being mumbled from the ‘muppet box’.
Well it seemed to be the kick in the pants the hosts needed and the only points of the day for the visitors.
It was now Maids turn for errors as Hertford started to take control of the game. Pressure forced a 5mtr lineout in the bungalow corner which was stolen by the defense to ease the pressure. Ironically, it was the away game at Maids where Hertford’s line out started functioning well this season and has been secure ever since. The number of personnel changes obviously contributed to the early line out malaise as it did improve as the game went on and confidence grew.
As the Berks boys worked their way to halfway a kick aimed to pin the home side back in their 22 was charged down and gathered by the rangy Sonny Swift who’s pace, even augmented by wind and sound waves provided by the ‘muppet box massive’, could not get him the last 5 mtrs.
Territory and pressure was now applied by Hertford and the dam broke when Christy Basra burrowed over near the posts giving Lloyd Davis his simplest kick of the day.
As time added on approached, Scrum pressure from Hertford led to the visitors’ scrum collapsing. Davis, sensibly, opted for the posts to extend the lead before the break. A tricky kick into the wind sailed through the centre of the stick.
There was time for the restart and the home side made the most of it.
When Hertford are confident and use quick ball, all sides in this league have trouble dealing with them. And so it proved from the restart. Good support play, fast recycling and multiple phases resulted in broken play and scramble defense, allowing Davis to show and show and show and ghost through the gap to dot down wide out. Lloyd's excellent conversion of his own try took the trajectory of a Thorpe Park rollercoaster but ended up where it should as the half time whistle blew.
HT 17-5 to Hertford.
Hertford always get stronger as the game goes on and so it was no surprise when they scored next. Man of the Match, Billy Johnson, took the ball to the line for the umpteenth time but this time offloaded before contact to Sonny Swift on a perfectly timed running line that open the defense. He then showed real game awareness and vision, slowing up and putting his skipper ‘Sitch’ away to score. This time the Solar winds were not with Davis and the ball rebounded off the posts.
It was all Hertford now and next it was the turn of ‘Comeback kid’ Billy Johnson as distraction moves created space down the blind. Davis must have angered the kicking gods with his earlier great kick and they sent bad winds to foil his next conversion attempt. 27-5.
It would not be a Hertford win without Charlie Parkhouse getting on the score sheet and so be it as he glided in for a trademark try. Lloyd asked the lads it they wouldn’t mind scoring somewhere other than the touchline to at least give him a sporting chance.
The biggest cheer of day was reserved for JP as he entered the arena with 15 to go.
Next score was for newbie Aaron Bellow who still had work to do when he received the ball wide out. Let’s hope the power and pace shown are a sign of things to come. He even listened to Lloyd Davis’ request to score a bit closer to the sticks. The conversion was good.
The final try at the death was a good finish from the opposite winger Francis Moore although the writer must admit he had retired to the bar to beat the rush. Sorry Francis!
This was an encouraging performance when you consider the changes and we have been lucky to stay injury free in a rew key positions.
Josh Hewitt put in another outstanding performance that must be making the County selectors take notice along with the ever improving Josh Rudling. We also now have a back three that would grace most sides a league above.
This Saturday will be vital in putting a dent in the hopes of our stalkers, North Walsham whist Sevenoaks have no easy task against an improving Westcombe Park, whom rumour has it have strengthened their squad considerably from early season.
Will any get ‘clear blue water’ at the top?
Quick shout out to our excellent 2nd XV who beat Tring 2’s 63-15. Special mentions to Louis Suarez (apologies if I spelt it wrong) who scored a hat trick.
This was also the last game for Prop and great clubman James ‘Moley ‘ Mole who is moving back to Sunderland after over 20 years in the area.
A huge thank you and good luck Moley.
