Hackney RFC: 43    

 

Hackney RFC’s pursuit of the Herts/Middlesex North Three title is almost complete as they secured another win in the penultimate league fixture this season. A final win for the Griffins in a fortnight’s time will ensure they are crowned champions. The only team that can stand in their way are Cuffley, who ended fellow title rivals Borehamwood’s bid last weekend to leave a two horse race for the title.

 

Hackney were good in the first 10 minutes, exerting pressure on the Chess Valley defence and causing them to concede three early penalties which were converted by fly half Jeff Moore. The London side however did not continue to pressurise the Chess Valley side and allowed them to regain parity through a penalty of their own. Moore hit back with another penalty but that was as good as it got for the Griffins who allowed the league’s bottom side to dominate them in all aspects of the game. It was Valley who scored the first try of the game, their older stronger pack using brute force to drive over the line. James Davis was forced to make a try saving tackle on his own line and Valley almost grabbed a second try right on the half time whistle.

 

It was not looking good for Hackney as defeat would ruin their promotion chances. Skipper Matt Clemens-Lary demanded more aggression, passion and commitment from his players and they responded in the second half running in four tries. Moore scored a great individual try, added another penalty and converted all four tries to leave him with 28 points for the game and a deserved man of the match award. Nico Adriaso proved that you don’t have to be big to be good at rugby with a great individual try and a solid defensive game tackling all who tried to pass him. The Davis brothers’ Charlie and James grabbed a try each but were both guilty of wasting further chances late on to extend Hackney’s dominance.

 

Chess Valley did press and fight until the end but there was too much work for them to do to get back in the game. The Griffins know that if they play like that in a fortnights time then Hatfield will fancy their chances of ruining Hackney’s promotion chances.

 

Hackney Griffins: J Williams, D Bates, M Clemens-Lary, J Young, N Cartwright, D Beno, O Hart, J Tully, C Fanning, J Moore, O Gee, B Armstrong, T Wright, J Davis, C Callanan