Hays vs Hampstead Smi-final league Play-offs

Hayes RFC run over six tries against Hampstead RFC to reach our second final of the season. Hayes got off to a wonderful start with a great try from on field captain Chris Wells powering over the line. James Cook converting to make 7-0. Hampstead hit back straight away making their way up the pitch with quick tap and goes, with their scrumhalf finding a gap in the Hayes defence to score. Kick missed 7-5.

Hayes would firmly take control of the game, scrum half Joe Nuth picking the ball up from the bottom of a scrum 10 meters out, passing to Mark Gardiner who would fend off their number 10, shrug of another and take their 8 over the line with him to score. In his words “a powerful try any forward would be proud of.” James converted to make it 14-5 to Hayes. Hayes scored almost straight from the restart with Chris Wells scoring his second of the game, a cheeky step and dummy pass opened a gap in Hampstead’s defence for him to go over. James Cook converted 21-5 to Hayes. Hampstead restarted, and Hayes were relentless going straight back at them. Centre Connor Galbraith stepping and riding the tackles then sprinting for the try line to score his first and Hayes 4th of the afternoon. Kick converted by James Cook 28-5 to Hayes. Hayes were playing fantastic rugby controlling the play the scrums, the line outs and endlessly counter rucking. The backs were moving the ball across the line with class and making ground very well. Half time would arrive with Hayes leading comfortably 28-5.

The second-half got underway and a fired-up Hampstead team came out and were causing the Hayes defence problems, but they defended well. A good 10 Minuets would pass with some exciting end to end rugby. Eventually Hampstead scored a fantastic try from their full back stepping and finding the gaps, to run the complete length of the field to score the kick was missed 28-10 to Hayes. Hayes kicked off and won the ball back with a great turnover. Scrum half Joe Nuth popped the ball to the backs who worked it to Connor Galbraith to burst over the try line for his second and Hayes 5th of the game. James converted to make it 35-10 to Hayes. Hampstead scored again after a quick tap and go kick converted 35-17. Hayes would score their final try of the game after a counter ruck deep in our own half. The ball found its way to James who popped it back inside to Connor Galbraith who would sprint 3 quarters of the pitch to score his hattrick well, making the score 40-17 Hayes. Hampstead would push for one more try but the Hayes defence was holding firm but at a cost. Hayden Critchfield was shown a yellow card for not retreating 10 but the 14 men held out to win and Secure our place in the playoff final to face Ealing on the 14th March 2018. Just one week after we play Ickenham in the cup final.

BY Wayne Palmer

MOM Connor Galbraith