Hammers 1s v Belsize Park

The rain had abstained for the Saturday fixture at Hurlingham Park. Belsize Park were flying high at the top of the league, and so Hammers knew that they had to play at their best to topple the league leaders.

The first twenty of the match was ferocious. Both teams not giving an inch. Hammersmith had a foray into BP’s 22 and returned with 3 points courtesy of Alex Warner’s boot.
Both teams were sticking to their game plans and played wonderful tactical kicking. Both testing their back 3’s to see whose would crack first.

It was to be Hammers, they were pinned back into the corner with a wonderful piece of kicking from BP’s Fly, this led to a knock on and 4 reset scrums. When eventually the ball was released from the 16 forwards battling it out, BP picked and went continually creating momentum for the backs to dive over to dot it onto the line. Converted.

From the restart, a poor chase and BP were back up to the Hammers 22. From a good turnover to a poor clearance kick, BP set a solid maul and drove over to score their second.
3-15 Half time

H&F believed this game was hanging in the balance. Neither side had asserted great dominance and were tussling for control.
However it was to be BP who gained the control in the second half. They came out with explosive pace and meticulous structure, which ground down the Hammers.
A further three tries were scored by BP, with the pick of the bunch being a silky dummying run from the Fly to find support on his inside to put them under the posts.

Hammers fought to the end, continually stealing line out ball and tackling hard. But a hard lesson was to be taught by BP, structure and consistent effort is the key in London 2 North West. Hammers cannot work hard in quarters; it has to be for the entire game.
3-30 FT