Hackney 6 Borehamwood 5

THERE were mixed fortunes for Hackney RFC this weekend - the Griffins got revenge over Herts/Middlesex league rivals Borehamwood but the Gargoyles surrendered their 100 per cent record away at Thames RFC.

The wet and cold conditions at Springhill was not ideal for attractive rugby and with two previous one-point wins this season it seemed that another close encounter was in store from the start.

Hackney dominated throughout, controlling the set plays and having a good share of possession.

However, the wet ball handled like a bar of soap and both teams were guilty of numerous knock-ons and other errors.

Borehamwood defended well as the Griffins attacked throughout the first period, limiting the half-time score to 3-0 from a James Hardwick penalty.

The Griffins were forced to shuffle the pack in the second half due to injuries.

Borehamwood tried to be more positive but often resorted to kicking high balls deep into Hackney territory which full back Cathal Callanan dealt with easily.

With the ball in hand, Owen Addison caused Borehamwood problems defensively and whenever the Herts side attacked, Morgan Whitlock was always there to make a covering tackle.

Hardwick landed another penalty to increase the lead but his two subsequent misses ensured a tense finale to the game.

Borehamwood scored the only try of the game late on as the result of a driving maul from a lineout but their kicker missed the simple conversion which would have handed victory to the Herts side.

Hackney played out the last minutes of the game to record their first-ever victory over Borehamwood and climb to fourth place in the league. Saturday was the first match under new coach Neil Schofield, who has recently joined the club.

The Gargoyles played away at Thames RFC in South Ockendon, who they had comprehensivley beaten earlier in the season.

But tey lost their undefeated record to a vastly-improved Thames side.

The Essex outfit had clearly introduced several of their first-team players to bolster the side that was beaten heavily at Springhill.

Despite taking an early 12-0 lead through try-machine Uzo Unwanwune, Thames RFC proved to be too strong running in four tries with the match eventually ending 12-24.

Hackney Griffins: A Brace, M Spencer, M Clemens-Lary, J Young, N Cartwright, O Hart, B Chamberlain, O Addison, P Grieves, J Moore, J Davies, S Collins, J Wilson, J Hardwick, C Callanan.

Hackney Gargoyles: F Pentecost, J Mullet, D Clarke, H Gross, R Irwin, P Kaoud, D Beno, S Duncan, G Llewellyn Williams, D Griffen, U Unwanwune, T Wright, C Davies, A Owen, S Haynes.