DATCHWORTH RFC - V - HEMEL HEMPSTEAD RFC - 5TH MARCH 2022

Datchworth had high hopes of reversing their close pre-Christmas defeat at Hemel in their return fixture at home last Saturday and, in a competitive first-half, they showed every intention of doing so. Hemel’s lively scrum-half and their left wing posed a significant challenge for the Datchworth defence but, apart from one occasion when the winger scored in the corner mid-way through the first half, the Datch defence held up very well against a handy set of backs.

Although the green army were having a tough time in the set scrums, a bit of a theme over the season, the competition in the loose and the line-outs was very even, with Connor Harris and Dom Negri jumping and catching well. The backs managed to make some inroads against a tidy Hemel defence and a combination of accurate passing and running by the backs and committed rucking by the forwards resulted in a try for Dom Negri after twenty-five minutes from a well worked lineout routine. The game then see-sawed from one twenty-two to the other with neither side managing to land a knock-out blow; but Datchworth reached half-time with the scores tied at 5-5, very much in the game.

Unfortunately for Datchworth, Hemel upped their game in the second half while the men in green fell away somewhat, as the pressure in the set pieces began to tell. Hemel scored fifteen minutes into the second half, after some careless defensive work let them in, giving them a lead of 5-12. Although Datchworth battled hard to get back into the game, it proved an uphill struggle and Hemel scored two more tries before the end of the match to run out worthy winners, 5-24. Nevertheless, the game ended with the green army on the front foot and they were unlucky not to come away with another score before the end.

As usual, the team never gave up and captain James Watt was proud of his predominantly young team. Among the forwards, Will Williams, Dom Negri, Connor Harris and James Hankins all worked hard, with Jamie “Pumbaa” Smith also contributing well. Among the backs, fly-half Tom Bennett had a very sound game, his kicking particularly good. One exceptional try-saving tackle by young centre Ollie Barnes was the champagne moment of the match. Again, Franco Caroleo showed that he was equally adept at centre or fly-half. Nick Moore at full back was his usual consistent self in everything he did. No-one shirked their defensive duties.

The squad travel away to Hackney on Saturday. They beat them comfortably at home and are quietly confident that they can do so away as well.