Hackney RFC’s 2nd XV survived a difficult start to defeat Belsize Park last weekend, recording their first victory against the side since 2010.
With a crucial cup tie against Tring looming on the horizon, the Gargoyles made the short trip to the hallowed turf of Regent’s Park to take on Belsize.
With the pre-season encounter between the two sides going right to the wire after a late try earned Hackney a draw, the Gargoyles knew this friendly fixture would feel more like a crunch league game.
Hackney have started sluggishly in recent weeks and, despite efforts to give themselves a kick start, this Saturday afternoon was no different.
The team found themselves 12-0 down in the first 15 minutes, with the Belsize backline throwing the ball around unopposed.
With Belsize Park, Hackney had found itself up against an opposition with a talented fly-half and a penchant for running rugby.
After conceding for a second time, Hackney seemed to realise action was needed. Backs Guy Halfhead and Rich Yong began to make yards up the middle of the pitch.
Injury forced Halfhead from the field, but a good move from his replacement Jack Silverthorn and wingers Arif Saad and Jonny O’Connor gave Hackney a well-worked try.
In what was to become a theme of the day, Matt Hanton missed the wide conversion.
The try, however, restored some Hackney confidence, and soon the Gargoyles began to turn the screw. The pack, dominant in the scrum, began to exert pressure at the breakdown and the half-back pair of Hughes and Hanton had the chance to use quick-ball.
Winger Arif Saad used this to great effect, tormenting his opponent all game long. In what was a man-of-the-match performance, the speedster ran in two tries before half-time. A third after the break gave him a well-deserved hat-trick.
Credit should be paid to Belsize, who refused to give up and crossed the Hackney line one more time before the final whistle. Hackney, however, closed the game out to win with a final score of 35-22.
The Gargoyles now have a week’s break before the cup clash with Tring, a squad beaten easily earlier in the season but showing improved form in recent weeks.
