Hackney come up short against Grasshoppers

Two tries from Matt Strong failed to prevent Hackney from going down 17-10 to Grasshoppers.

The Griffins remain sixth in the table but their hopes of recording back-to-back wins slipped through their fingers.

The home side exploited conditions and a slight slope advantage in the first half by running in two well-constructed tries through good link play between the backs and forwards.

Trailing 10-0 at the turnaround, Hackney’s territorial game improved, with half-backs Ed Clark and Andy Sprague regularly finding touch with excellent kicking. The visitors turned possession into points, and it was Strong who brought the scores level with two tries off the back of excellent drives by the forwards.

Tough conversions were missed on both occasions to leave the game in the balance at 10 points apiece and with both sides in search of the win, it was Grasshoppers who grabbed a third converted try.

Hackney had the consolation of a losing bonus point at the final whistle, but will now be keen to reassert themselves among the chasing pack when they travel to table-toppers Welwyn on Saturday.