Hackney RFC remain on top of the Herts Middlesex North 3 league with a vital away win against Pinner.

 

The Griffins got of to a great start and quickly asserted themselves on the opposition. The forwards dominated the set plays which provided the possession for the back line to pressurize an older and less mobile Pinner side. The Griffins were first on the score sheet from a James Hardwick penalty and it was not long before Hackney scored their first try; Shaun Collins finishing off a backs move to score under the posts. Hardwick added the goal points.

 

When Pinner had the ball, they were often forced into mistakes by the Hackney back row. Man of the match was flanker Charlie Davis who set about upsetting the opposition and looked dangerous when he had the ball in hand. He came close to scoring in the first half after linking up well with his brother James and was a constant thorn in Pinner’s side. Hackney had a string of excellent opportunities to score but they were wasteful when in possession. The forwards were making hard yards but were often gripped by “white line fever” and tried to batter their way through Pinner’s defence rather then pass the ball out wide and let the backs utilise the space created by the pack. The forwards did get on the score sheet when John Tully smashed over following a set play straight from the training ground.

 

Hackney went off the boil after this and despite good pressure could not get another score. Pinner scored on the stroke of halftime in what was their first attack of any purpose leaving the game evenly balanced at half time. The Middlesex side came out the blocks in the second half and were camped on the Hackney try line for the first ten minutes of the second half. Solid defence from the London side ensured that Pinner came away with no points in the second half.

 

Tully got his second and Hackney’s third try midway through the second half to kill off the game. Good work from Nick Cartwright at the base of the maul allowed the number 8 to score under the posts. Hackney thought they had scored shortly afterwards when John Young crashed over the line but in the process of doing so knocked the ball forwards which was spotted by the referee. With Hardwick adding the remaining goal points through penalties, Hackney celebrated another win and now look forward to a top of the table clash against Borehamwood next weekend.

 

Coach Neil Schofield said after the game “We started really well but I think the early lead made the lads complacent. We finished the game exactly how we started the game playing hard rugby with everyone giving 100% which shows the fitness and determination in the team”.

 

Hackney Griffins: A Brace, M Clemens-Lary, J Williams, N Cartwright,  J Young, O Hart, C Davis, J Tully, T Wreight, J Moore, J Wilson, A Hall, S Collins, J Davis, J Hardwick. Reserves - R Holgate, P Grieves, B Chamberlain.