The third team had been chomping at the bit for a run out after the cancellations of their last two league games and so a team of thoroughbreds, colts, carthorses and show ponies (you choose which you think you were) finally took the field on Saturday looking for victory against a huge and imposing Hitchin side. What followed was a physical and entertaining game in which both sides and the ref fully played their part.

As the game got underway, Hitchin kicked into the Saints half, recovered the ball and attacked with real intent. That intent seemed to be to run as hard as they could preferably over the top of someone in blue and gold. The Saints defence was severely tested across the park but held strong with big defence from the front five of Gee, Traile, Maher and the Toland senior and Junior double act. Some excellent steals in the midfield from Duncan Sharp making light of the 5 stone a man advantage that the hedgehog’s fly half and centres held and the calm presence and big boot of Watkins at full-back, fresh from his London marathon run, allowed the Saints to clear their lines. So began a pattern of Hitchin attack and Saint’s defence that continued throughout the half. It was physical unrelenting fun. As halftime approached Hitchin will have been wondering how they were not on the scoreboard and St Albans would have been looking for the halftime whistle and an opportunity to regroup.

However, the introduction of the Wild Man of Welwyn John Sayers combined with tiring Hitchin legs just shifted momentum in the last minutes of the half. Ball was a little more secure for number 8 Hesh and scrum-half Mike to distribute and fly-half JD was able to get the ball into the hands of dangerous runners in the backs. Saints worked their way down the pitch and into the Hitchin 22 for the first time but the opposition defence proved just as solid as the Saints and despite excellent drives to the line from Stephenson and Traile. The Saints were held out and then held up over the line. The halftime whistle blew with the 0-0 score line a reflection of the quality of defence from both teams.
Half time talks involving a lot of expletives, heavy breathing and the fervent gulping of water were given and the second half was underway (too soon for many players liking!). Brawn had not managed to unlock either defence in the first half and so the Saints decided to give brains (and pace) a go. This was a wise decision as the first try came only a few minutes into the half and it was a thing of beauty. The introduction of old father time, Mark Pragnall lead to a rock solid scrum from which the Saints could attack. Fly half JD took the ball right to the line and lifted the ball to Sharp on a great line to split the defence. An offload to the supporting Sayers saw him rampage up the field before finding JD for a return pass to score under the post untouched. A simple conversion and the Saints were 7-0 up. Moments later, Oxley took the ball blind and fed debutant winger Renee the ball just inside his own half. Blistering acceleration, a great change of direction and moments later he was under the post (Why had we not given him the ball earlier?) A Fabulous try. After 45 minutes with no tries Saints scores were like buses…mostly for old people and students! 14 - 0

A third try came soon after as ‘rapid’ Renee returned a kick from his own 22 with interest. Beating several players on a weaving he just had the full back to beat. JD had taken the shorter and more direct route as a wise old head should and was there to take a simple pass and run in to steal the glory. 21-0 after 55minutes. From kick off was possibly the moment of the match as hooker Lee Mooney took the ball cleanly form kick off. Spotting the gap he decided to kick and struck the ball like a bearded, Irish Messi finding the space perfectly. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to see the rewards of his perfect strike as a 20stone Hitchin Viking, rightfully appalled at the audacity of a front row kicking the ball, absolutely hammered him and Mooney limped off to think about what he had done.

Hitchin finally got a foothold in the second half and after a series of attacks a good line from the outside centre saw them over for a well-deserved first try 21 – 7. The game really was end to end now as Sayers recovered the kick-off and, after some good runs from new outside centre Dan Prowse, Aled and the ever-improving Little on the wing, Doug was able to crash over in the corner. An excellent conversion from Watkins and the score was 28-7. Tom Wong had been exceptional in the back row all day, carrying hard, making hits and offloading out of the tackle. However, as he went for an interception the referee decided he had just not tried hard enough to catch it and should spend 10 minutes on the sideline to practice. Hitchin used their one-man advantage well and their supersized 10 crashed over from short range the leaving several Saints in his wake.

Before the final whistle there was one last chance for Renee to show his pace as Wong returned from the sin bin and found a great offload to put the winger into space. He cruised in under the posts and with the conversion the final score was 35 -14.

It was a great game and exactly what third team rugby should be, old heads and young bucks enjoying themselves and playing hard. Two teams that played hard but fair and shared a bit of banter on the way. Once again we had a ref who communicated well and wanted rugby to be played allowing a pleasurable afternoon for all.