Sun 18 Sep 2022, 10:00
18/09/2022 - Finchley A's Away
A tough opener for the season.
Playing away against a team 3 divisions above was always going to be tough, but no one can question the passion that all the lads played with. We started brightly on a gorgeous warm sunny afternoon and although this was our 1st match we looked up for a battle. We ran hard and tackled harder as we matched them at every play.
The main problem we had was our discipline, too many penalties in the first 15 mins for high tackles or offside cost us dearly. Finchley worked their way close to the line and a quick tap penalty caught us cold and they powered over the line despite great effort to hold them up. A second was to quickly follow after again a penalty kicked deep into the corner was smashed over by their prop. Finchleys 3rd was a bit fortunate, after a deep kick Maxwell picked up the ball in his own try area and skipped passed 3 players before his attempted kick was charged down and an easy try was conceded. We started to play with a bit more belief and some powerful runs from Harvey, Jack, Frankie and Ciaran got us up close to their line. A quick break from Luke, who looked like he had scored only to have been denied for a suspected double movement saw the first half come to an end. 17-0.
The 2nd half was started by Stevenage and they kicked deep into Finchleys half, we had them pinned in their 22 and they decided to clear their lines. The kick made it into our half but was collected superbly by Maxwell whose quick feet left 3 Finchley players stranded and with 2 still to beat, he waltzed his way past them for a great solo try. Conversion missed 17-5. The rest of the half saw huge hits from both sides and also some great pace. After a strange referees decision which should have seen a penalty for Stevenage for a blatant push, Finchley spun the ball wide across their own line to go the length of the pitch to extend their lead. With seconds to go a missed kick for the corner saw the full back run the last try in from 60m out to seal the game.
The lads can hold their heads high after a very tough game in which they did not take a step back against a big physical side. We play Hitchin at home this weekend coming, which will again be tough opposition.
Come on the town.
Report by Adam Amos 
Coach)
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