Pub Golf is fast approaching so make sure the date is in your diary, 27th of October for some quiet lemonades (Golf dress encouraged). The ladies are then hosting a Pub Quiz fundraiser on the 7th of November at The Gypsy Queen so brush up on your general knowledge and come and win prizes!

The club tour will be taking place in the May bank holiday weekend, we are looking for a club squad/old boy volunteer to organise this with Mr Michael McEwan. Step up and be involved in the democratic process, or I'll do it and you'll be sorry!

IMPORTANT
Another reminder that all payments to the club (membership and match fees) should now be processed via the links on the club website (click here or follow the link at the bottom of this email), if you are on the old direct debit system please sign up to payments through this link and the club will cancel your old DD as the new system comes online. I know it seems like a hassle but it should only take 5 minutes and it means that the club will be able to focus it's finances for the benefit of all of us. We are hoping to complete the transition by Christmas so please, get on it!

Next weeks games are;

Hampstead 2XV v Hammersmith & Fulham - Away

Hampstead 3XV v Chiswick 3XV - Home

Hampstead 4XV v Bulldogs - Away

Ladies;

Hampstead Ladies 1XV v Old Albanians - Away

Hampstead 2XV v Stockwood Park Ladies - Home

A summary of last weekends games;

Hampstead 1XV v Hackney

Final Score: 22 – 26 to Hackney

Hampstead 2XV v Hackney

MOTM: Pauli Paul and Emilio Binst for some excellent finishing

Final Score: 55 – 38 to Hampstead

Hampstead 3XV vs Old Streetonians

With a game that showed dominance from the Hampstead pack gaining us the majority of the territory in the first half, the second half took a different turn. Old Streetonians (maybe because of the beasting they were receiving in the scrum) lost both props and went uncontested. With the loss of the set piece the 3s did their best to maintain their lead against a very handsy jackalling team but the end result was a disappointing loss after spending the last 20 minutes in the opposition 22.

Final Score: 17 – 24 to Old Streetonians

Hampstead 4XV v London Welsh Occies

After a couple of false starts for the 4s (a walk-over win, and a narrow loss against Whitton that we’re definitely not still bitter about...), London Welsh presented an opportunity for the 4s to put their stamp on the league, and stamp on it they did.

3 trys within the first ten minutes signalled what was to come, and other than a ten minute period at the start of the second half where the team became a little complacent, Hampstead remained dominant throughout. To go through every try would make for indulgent reading, but highlights included several individual efforts from the nippy Phil Squires, a career first from Hugo Graham (a break through the line and a step around their full-back!) and the greatest try the 4s have ever scored: Started by a signature Manu Simo chip and chase, mere inches from the left wing. A lucky bounce saw the ball back in his hands, and a nifty offload released Squires. There was still work to do, and Squires, shepherded into the corner sent a wild pass into the midfield. Lee collected, and out of pure laziness waited for Pullinger to run from half-way and sent him over the line.

Clearly Hampstead’s attacking game was on-point, but it was actually the defence that really impressed. Hard hits and huge efforts from a team that towards the end were down to 14 men made the captains proud.

This weekend the 4s head to Bulldogs.

Trys: Squires (5), Lee, Pullinger, Graham, Parker, Ruthven, Silk

Cons: Pullinger (7)

MOTM: Graham (for an all round great game and his first try!)

Hon. Mentions: Squires (can’t ignore 5 trys!), Parker (great work at 9) and Simo (top form)

DotD: Ruthven (Made a break, got tired and passed the ball 5 metres forward. He scored a try though, so guess he’s alright...)

Unhon. Mentions: Cass (for throwing a tantrum when he knocked on) and Simo (despite a great game, decided that a quick line-out to Matt Wright on our own 5 metre with 3 of their players charging was a good idea... Poor Matt Wright...

Final Score: 69 – 19 to Hampstead

That link again for signing over to the new payments system:

https://secure.pitchero.com/clubs/hampsteadrfu/payments/category/membership

James Ballard
Men's Co-Club Captain