Cambridge U17 65 - 0 Hitchin

Tries: Seb Howarth (3), Michael Brennan(3), Michael Burnford, Rhys Roberts, Michael Payne, James Travers, Amedee Vautravers

Conversions: Oli Benham, George Knowles (2), Callum Traynor (2)

This week, I’m afraid you’ll have to put up with my scant and abbreviated memory of events, rather than JP’s excellent reports.

After our successful but tiring campaign to reach the final of the Eastern Counties Cup, this week’s match was a ‘friendly’ against Hitchin, who sit top of Herts & Middlesex Div. 5. They reliably inform me, we are equivalent to H & M Div. 1, a fact I chose to keep quiet from you all, to ensure we remained focused on the job in hand.

With a number of our players resting due to illness or injury, it was a good opportunity to give other squad members more game time as well as trying certain players in different positions.

We all agreed we were not our normal, efficient and well oiled machine against Bury St Edmunds, so players were keen to make amends.

The game seemed pretty one sided. However, this was more down to players sticking to their tasks and showing us what they are capable of, rather than failings in the Hitchin ranks (Hitchin in fact, never gave up and battled to the end. Huge credit to them).

Mike Brennan and Seb Howarth ran strong lines all day (see photos of Mike B crashing over too defenders prior to scoring!), with Travs, Rhys and Callum knocking down anything that moved near the scrum.

Michael Burnford was back to his tackling ways and Michael Payne came on to score a try having run in support (yes, even locks can do it!).

Joe Offley stood out for his commitment. Claiming kick off ball, tackling well, running in support. A great example of what we can all do when we focus.

The whole team battled hard to ensure Hitchin failed to score. Overall, a good, solid performance from everyone.

Next week, 29 January, we have our last training session before the EC Cup Final against Ipswich. It is hugely important that you all make a concerted effort to be there!

Scorer details of the Hitchin game are below:

First Half

Try: Mike Brennan 5-0

Try: Seb Howarth 10-0

Try: Mike Burnford 15-0

Try: Rhys Roberts (conv. Oli Benham) 22-0

Try: Mike Brennan (conv. George Knowles) 29-0

Try: Seb Howarth 34-0

Second Half

Try: Mike Payne (conv. George Knowles) 41-0

Try: Seb Howarth 46-0

Try: Mike Brennan: 51-0