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Old Northamptonians 44-38 Tring
Report compiled by Richard Eason from Richard Civil’s Twitter commentary.

The Old Northamptonians made the 40 mile journey down to Hertfordshire to play Huel Tring.

With 4 minutes on the clock Huel Tring opened the scoring. Further to a run from deep, a few missed tackles, Huel Tring find themselves in the ONs’ 22 where they recycle the ball well and a perfectly weighted cross field kick is collected, dotted down and the conversion makes it 7-0. However, the ONs hit back straight away with a superb turn over from Lewis Barker, they’re penalised for holding on. The penalty is put into the corner and from the line out Matt Parry scores and Joe Heslop knocks over the extras, 7-7 after 9 mins. Four minutes later and it’s 7-14. Excellent carries, numerous advantages before the final one is given and Barker goes quickly to add the ONs 2nd try with Joe Heslop converting.
Tring hit back as they retain the ball well inside the ONs 22 before finally a long pass wide and their winger is over in the corner to make it 12-14 on 20 mins. The conversion being missed. ON’s have the opportunity to increase their lead in the 25th minute when Huel Tring are penalised for being offside but Joe Heslop knocks it wide. Huel Tring move the ball out from a scrum on 28 minutes but Joe Liggins slides through to intercept and goes under the posts from 40m out, Joe Heslop adds the extra, 12-21. It’s end to end with 32 mins gone and from a free ball Huel Tring chip through and win the chase to go over in the corner with the conversion missed to make it 17-21.
James De La Cruz replaces OT Edwards on 34 minutes and a minute later from a great line out, Joe Liggins carries into midfield before a switch back the other way, two quick passes and Joel Grayson is in for the bonus point try with the conversion attempt hitting the post, 17-26. Just on half-time ON’s are awarded a penalty but missed by Joe Heslop.

Half-time 17-26, really great half of rugby sees ON’s secure the try bonus point in the first 40 but the job needs finishing in the 2nd half. Half time substitution with Rory Seymour on for Ben Pagington.

A minute into the second half the ONs concede penalty for hands on the floor and Huel Tring knock over the 3 points, 20-26. ON’s restore their advantage soon after when Callum Lodder takes a couple of hits before off loading to Rory Seymour to score in the corner, to make it 20-31. Conversion missed. The game is again end to end and the ONs struggle to exit, are penalised and Tring add their 3 points, 23-31 after 46 mins. We put another penalty into the corner on 53 minutes where the ball is secured at the lineout and we get moving before James De La Cruz peels off and bundles his way over, Tom Addison adding the extras 23-38. On 55 mins Dan Hughes is a replacement for Jake Diggin. The scores start to get a bit close on 58 minutes when Huel Tring have a driving maul of their own and go over to make it 30-38 with the conversion. On 66 minutes a high shot and we’re awarded a penalty in front of the posts about 30m out which is placed between the posts by Tom Addison, 30-41. It’s not long before it’s back to a one score game with 10 minutes remaining as Huel Tring hit back, but the conversion is missed 35-41. Tring infringe again after 73mins, but this one’s a little bit further out and 5m from the touch line. Tom Addison doesn’t care and puts us 9 points up, 35-44. With the clock on 80 mins Tring knock over a last minute penalty to secure the losing bonus point and that’s full-time, 38-44.

Richard Eason