Hatfield 1s 24 - Epping 2s 29

Epping extended there unbeaten run to five games on Saturday after they overcame a late fight back from a sprited Hatfield team who never knew they were beaten until the final whistle.
It was Hatfield earlier this season who had beaten the club at Thornwood HQ, the only team to inflict defeat on the Clapton at home this season.
The team that started were pretty much 2nd team regulars with the additions of Adam Ayres who was returning after injury and Harry Barnes, playing in his first senior match of the season at scrum half.
The game kicked off with Epping having the advantage of the slope. For the first 20 minutes Clapton dominated play and scored two tries. The first by lock Jakk Harty who pretty much walked through a gaping hole five metres from the try line. The second was a fantastic solo effort from wing RIchard Mcenery who collected his own chip kick over the oncoming defence and then powered his way over the try line with several would be tacklers on his back.
With Clapton seemingly in control the initial intensity dropped.This allowed the hosts back into the game and for the remainder of the half Hatfield attacked and scored a try to put them back in the game.
Clapton made two changes at half time with Harry Judge replacing Ayrsey at Prop and Youthful for Sweeney M in the back row. Some harsh words were spoken with key objective to start the second half as they did the first. Unfortunately Hatfield weren't playing ball and promptly levelled the scores five minutes into the second half with their second try of the afternoon.
Finally this sparked the club back to life as they regained momentum in search of a score to retake the lead. This was managed with a neat drop goal from scrum half Harry Barnes and then Clapton's third try of the afternoon scored by Smiffy but set up from a break by George Douglass.
Hatfield replied with a try of their own before Barnes looked to have put the game out of their hosts reach with a dive Tom Daley would have been proud of.
With time running out the ref thought he would make the game interesting by awarding the home team with a series of penalties that enabled Hatfield to bring the score to within four points. The final seconds saw Epping defending for their lives but fortunately a knock on ended proceedings and a deserved win, just, for the Thornwood based team.
Not a classic by any means but a win against a team who had beaten them earlier this season.
A big thank you to Crouchy who ensured the scrums were competitive by playing for Hatfield. Good performances also from Lindsey Dobbin who is a real danger with ball in hand. Harry Barnes had a terrific debut scoring fourteen of the twenty nine points. Most entertaining break of the day went to Nick the knife Moody.
Man of the match though went to Richard Mcenery who is growing in confidence by the week, got himself around the park and scored a superb try in the first half.
Clapton host Harrow 2s next week in another merit table 3 match