Match Preview

2017 ended with contrasting fortunes for London Welsh and Hendon. The final match in December saw our 1st XV travel to Staines, end the Swans' unbeaten home record, and pick up a bonus point before half time. Hendon were due to host UCSOB but were unable to put out a complete squad and conceded a walk-over - the resulting 5 point deduction taking them down to third from bottom, albeit 11 points clear of London French and 13 clear of Watford.

London Welsh maintained top spot in Herts/Middx 1, ahead of Bank of England and UCSOB, and whilst it is tempting to look ahead to the apparent 'bigger' matches, Hendon should not be underestimated. Five wins (against UCSOB, Barnet. Actonians, London French and Watford) have been topped up by six bonus points, including one for the narrow 28-22 defeat at home to Bank. Our visit to Hendon in September encountered a team with a determined defence and two tries from their powerful back row. A 19-0 lead after 50 minutes, courtesy of tries by Will Davies, Ben Francis and Sam Mahoney plus two Lloyd Davies conversions, didn't look as if it might be enough as Hendon clawed the score back to 19-14 and kept up the pressure. A last gasp try by Rhys Howells secured the win and the four-try bonus with Lloyd Davies adding the extras for a 26-14 victory.

With Bank at home to Actonians and UCSOB hosting London French, a bonus point win against Hendon is vital to keep the promotion hopes on track. Kick off 2pm. Bar open and hot food available to purchase. ADMISSION IS FREE!

Our thanks to David Gerslick, President of Hendon RFC, for the following message:

Hendon in some ways are very similar to London Welsh; with our Club having close Celtic links, over the last 30 years we have drawn players heavily from Irish Ex-Pat community, and more recently from the Emerald Isle itself. The link commenced in the early ’80s when John Casalaspro, himself Irish and a School teacher from the local Hendon School St. James Catholic High, captained the Club. JC then encouraged the School Rugby XV who nearly all were from Irish parentage to join Hendon as Youth and then Colts with most then making the Hendon 1st who were then running 5/6 teams. One of those Colts John Ryan became Club captain in 1987 and subsequently over a further 6 seasons; since then a further 9 captains have come from the North London Irish community to be followed over recent years by 5 direct from Ireland to include our current captain Mike Culhane.

Hendon now run just 2 teams with our 2nds playing in the Herts/Middlesex Merit Table 4; it is a great shame for Rugby that sportsmen and women have so many other sports to choose from that Rugby Clubs generally now only run a couple of teams. It is encouraging that our County, Middlesex is on the case to help Clubs market our great Sport and somehow encourage more to play from Tag to Touch to 7s to the Full game and then finally to Vets. Both of our Clubs along with all London Clubs must involve ourselves and engage with the local Schools and the wider Community to achieve our aims.

Finally may I wish London Welsh our best wishes in your own aims to recreate senior Rugby Football at Old Deer Park and, with the tradition of your Club’s success of winning the old Middlesex Charity Sevens some 8 times, please enter the 63rd Hendon 7s on April 29th with the winners qualifying for the RFU 24/7s as well as entering the Middlesex 7s Festival , maybe with an elite squad on May 5th with again the winner qualifying for the 24/7s knockout rounds.

David Gershlick
President
Hendon Rugby