Back
Sat 20 Feb 2016 ·  National League 3
Hertford
1st XV
28
7
Tries: J Thomasen-HickConversions: J Thomasen-Hick
Mud bath at Hoe Lane
Mike CUBITT20 Feb 2016 - 20:05
Share via
In dreadful conditions Gss found that they could do nothing right in the eyes of the referee in the early exchanges and 9-0 in ten minutes.
Having dropped out against the driving rain and wind, Gss were forced back into their own territory by a couple of well placed field penalties and some enterprising forward play by the home pack.
Three penalty advantages played for what seemed to be ages, were brought back to kicking positions in front of the posts, and the accurate boot of Rob McPherson-Smith slotted each to put Herts 9-0 to the good.
Twenty-four minutes on the clock and Gss had taken play into the Herts territory a couple of times only to be penalised for one or another offence, followed by a yellow card for fly-half Jason Thomasen-Hicks.
Several five metre scrummages later and with a gap in the defence exploited it was an individual pick and drive from Torren MacDougal that added the first try to the score board. This was again converted to edge the score to 16-0.
The last ten minutes of the half was what must be described as a puple patch for Gss. Some enterprising running that took the ball forward, and good driving from the pack put pressure on the home defence.
Unlucky not to have crossed the line earlier, then held up over the line, nothing was going Gss way. A series of penalties against the home defence eventually led to the sin bin for Louis Castaglione for coming in at the side.
The clock had already passed the forty minutes but as it was penalties that kept the ball live, a couple more of these and Gss got their just reward when fly-half Jason Thomasen-Hicks crossed to touch down wide on the right. He then went on to put the difficult conversion between the posts, 16-7 at the break, and this was no more than Gss deserved.
A battle in the mud ensued throughout the second half, and there was stalemate on the park, that was until the failure to even attempt to catch or take control of a kick ahead led to the ball being gathered, and run in for an easy try, again the conversion went through the posts for a more secure home lead at 23-7.
There must have been a couple of Gravesend players that felt embarrassed at their failure to act that cost this seven points.
Even now with time running short there was hope that the ball winning loose forwards and the driving forward of the front row would lead to a further score for the visitors.
All went wrong when scrum-half Ben Creasey found his way across the whitewash to lift the difference to 28-7 before the final whistle curtailed the mud bath.
Three penalty advantages played for what seemed to be ages, were brought back to kicking positions in front of the posts, and the accurate boot of Rob McPherson-Smith slotted each to put Herts 9-0 to the good.
Twenty-four minutes on the clock and Gss had taken play into the Herts territory a couple of times only to be penalised for one or another offence, followed by a yellow card for fly-half Jason Thomasen-Hicks.
Several five metre scrummages later and with a gap in the defence exploited it was an individual pick and drive from Torren MacDougal that added the first try to the score board. This was again converted to edge the score to 16-0.
The last ten minutes of the half was what must be described as a puple patch for Gss. Some enterprising running that took the ball forward, and good driving from the pack put pressure on the home defence.
Unlucky not to have crossed the line earlier, then held up over the line, nothing was going Gss way. A series of penalties against the home defence eventually led to the sin bin for Louis Castaglione for coming in at the side.
The clock had already passed the forty minutes but as it was penalties that kept the ball live, a couple more of these and Gss got their just reward when fly-half Jason Thomasen-Hicks crossed to touch down wide on the right. He then went on to put the difficult conversion between the posts, 16-7 at the break, and this was no more than Gss deserved.
A battle in the mud ensued throughout the second half, and there was stalemate on the park, that was until the failure to even attempt to catch or take control of a kick ahead led to the ball being gathered, and run in for an easy try, again the conversion went through the posts for a more secure home lead at 23-7.
There must have been a couple of Gravesend players that felt embarrassed at their failure to act that cost this seven points.
Even now with time running short there was hope that the ball winning loose forwards and the driving forward of the front row would lead to a further score for the visitors.
All went wrong when scrum-half Ben Creasey found his way across the whitewash to lift the difference to 28-7 before the final whistle curtailed the mud bath.
Further reading
Team Sponsors
