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Saracens Amateurs 2nds 17-22 Hampstead 3rds

Saracens Amateurs 2nds 17-22 Hampstead 3rds

Guy Chapman4 Oct 2015 - 17:31
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Late try continues Hampstead's unbeaten start to the season.

After two convincing wins in the first two games, the 3s travelled to Saracen Amateurs for a floodlit Friday night game, a new experience for many of the players.

After a strong start, Hampstead had a penalty infront of the posts. Being in confident mood, we kicked for touch, except, except touch was missed, and Saracens got away. After that, Hampstead had a very poor first half, giving away far too many penalties. The defensive line was strong, but the huge penalty toll penalised Hampstead as Saracens scored two tries for a 10-0 lead. However, with the clock almost at 40 minutes, Hampstead played some of their famous running rugby and scored under the posts. Leo Yorke going in for a fine finish, almost tripping over his own feet on the way in. Mcgoldrick (the villain from the earlier missed touch) failed to redeem himself by missing the conversion from in front of the posts. 10-5 down at half time. 

Hampstead started the second half stongly and soon levelled the match at 10-10 with half time sub Gary going over the line. 

Even by this point we had a try ruled out for a questionable forward pass after winning a Saracens scrum on their 5 metre line. 

At this point the Hampstead scrum was dominating. Pushing Saracens back almost every time in the scrum. The colonel would have been proud!

Saracens then hit back soon after our second try with a converted try, taking a 17-10 lead. But Hampstead are made from stern stuff this year and wouldn't lie down. 

Mcgoldrick went over for a try under the posts, and with kicking responsibilities passed to Leo Yorke, the match was even at 17-17. 

After dominating the scrum for so long, Saracens had to go uncontested, on the same play Hampstead should have had their fourth (or fifth try depending on your view of the forward pass!) Justin Walsh, playing in his 19th season, fly kicked the ball into touch on a breakaway with a 2 on 0.It was easier to fly kick it straight! 

With the clock ticking down, and losing the power advantage in the scrum, things could have gone the way of Saracens, but we continued to dig deep and in the last 10 minutes, Ben Collier went over to score on his hampstead dayboo. 22-17 with 4 minutes to go. The remainder of the game was played just outside our 22. Frantic defence and strong tackles meant Hampstead had their third successive win. It could have been more comfortable, but Saracens were a very good well organised team and we look forward to another game with them later in the season. 

Well done to all involved and many thanks to Saracens for a great game and putting us up under their lights for a great experience. 

Man of the match went to Ben Collier for an excellent debut, both at hooker and centre. 

Dick of the day went to Gary due to injuring their prop, meaning that we played the last 15 uncontested. However, that decision has now been vetoed by me as I recall Mcgoldrick's game. Missing touch, missing from in front of the posts and kicking the ball out thinking the clock was at zero when it wasn't!!

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