Sunday 18^th March 2012

Herts and Middlesex Division 6

Hammers 52 Hertford B 22

A great team display was put on by the Hammers 13’s, in South Park against a competitive Hertford side.

From a ruck Raphael Fackler picked up the ball and ran in to score the opening try from 30 metres which was converted by Henry Collins making the score 7-0. Some poor tackling by the Hammers defence let in Hertford for a soft try straight away which was not converted, so the score was 7-5 after 10 minutes. The Hammers won a lineout and the ball was moved down the back line were a ruck was set-up. Louis Dupuy D’Angeac passed the ball to Raphael Fackler who crashed over to score a good team try. The conversion was missed so the score went to 12-5. Good Inter-play between Marc Plantenga and Mathis Rosier got the Hammers into the Hertford half once again were they linked up with Raphael Fackler who passed to Alexandre Coyard who scored under the posts. Henry Collins again converted the try making the score 19-5. Hertford kicked off and Alexandre Coyard caught the ball near his try line and beat several players to score a fantastic individual try under the Hertford posts. This try was converted, putting the Hammers well ahead at 26-5. The Hammers were now winning all the ball and from a poor kick by Hertford Michael Byrne,(who was playing his last game for the under 13’s before moving to Scotland) ran the ball back before passing to Gustave Vilsboe who made ground before slipping the ball to Alexandre Coyard who ran in his third try of the game. This try was converted by Marc Plantenga so making the score 33-5. Hertford did score another try just before half time that was not converted, so the score was at half time 33-12 to the Hammers under 13’s.

In the second half the Hammers team won most of the ball again, but could not score early on as the Hertford defence was good, but also the Hammers were not passing the ball anymore and individuals in the team were just trying to score themselves without looking to pass to better placed players. The Hammers took a quick lineout throw, but unfortunately the ball was intercepted by a Hertford player who ran away from the half way line to score in the right hand corner. This try was unconverted, so the score was 33-17. This seemed to wake up the Hammers team who now play as they did in the first half and Raphael Fackler scored a great try from the 22 metre line beating several Hertford players. At 38-17, Hammers coach of the day Al Hamilton was very happy, but was looking for more tries from the team and he got his wish when Theo Tsatsaris chased a kick by Marc Plantenga and caught the bouncing ball and out sprinted the covering Hertford defenders to score his first try for the team under the posts, which was converted by Michael Byrne. Hertford still kept trying and they were awarded for their commitment by scoring a very good try that was not converted, so the score moved onto 45-22. The final try of the game went to the Hammers after a poor kick by the Hertford fly half was caught by Alexandre Coyard, who sided stepped his way over the try line. This try was converted again by Henry Collins, so making the final score 52-22 to the Hammers under 13’s.

A good team display by the whole Hammers squad with good passing, rucking and tackling by all the players who took part in this game.