HERTS-MIDDLESEX MERIT TABLE TWO

DEVELOPMENT SIDE GIVE THEMSELVES TOO MUCH TO DO

WELWYN IIs 26 DEVELOPMENT SIDE 17

After the promising opening league win against Cheshunt, the Development side experienced a rude awakening in Hertfordshire after being outgunned 26-17 by their Welwyn counterparts.

Two big packs invariably gave as good as they got and although the forward exchanges were even, the visitors were ultimately derailed by a poor start after trailing 19-0 at the break.

Scarcely at the races in the opening period, the blue and golds were always chasing the game, but they did put in a decent innings after the interval when they ran-in three tries.

Having won the penalty, Ignatians kicked for the corner, and after Welwyn knocked-on at the lineout, the blue and golds were exactly where they wanted to be. From the ensuing attacking 5m scrum, Lewis White picked up at the base and he used his strength to barrel his way over. Paul Duke added the extras.

However, Welwyn added a fourth try via their experienced number eight went over.

So it was back to the drawing board but, Welwyn got careless, and Dale Gardener tucked away an interception try.

Ignatians also added a third try and, after Thomas Birdseye made good yardage after steaming up field some 30 metres, before Frank Antwi carried matters to their conclusion by storming over.

Captain Paul Duke said: “We didn’t tackle low enough at times but, fatally, we switched off in the first 25 minutes and the gap [on the scoreboard] was simply too big. We also didn’t have enough possession.”

Still, there quite a few positives and not least some good performances from Frank Antwi, Dan Redding, Harry Wilkins and Fadee Fayaz.