Hackney skipper targets top three next season after finishing with Stevenage victory

Hackney RFC captain Will Bowers is determined to guide his side to a top-three finish next year after a topsy-turvy 40-38 victory over Stevenage marked the end of their London North-West Division Three season.

The Griffins lost heavily at home to the same opponents earlier in the campaign, but tries from Matt Strong, Richard Yong, Alex O’Hara, Laurence Mills, a penalty try and a winning score from Charles O’Halloran in the last play gave Hackney a sweet send-off into the summer.

Hackney struggled to contain Stevenage’s impressive captain as he ran in four tries from the wing, but the visitors dug deep to secure the victory which solidified their fifth place in the final league standings.

“The game really evoked memories of the Harlem Globetrotters,” Bowers told the Gazette. “There was virtually no defence on show, and the hard ground meant there were a lot of injuries and very few tackles – the stuff of nightmares for a captain!

“We had a few players missing, but it was great to have Alex O’Hara [last year’s captain] back from his travels. I would have taken fifth at the start of the year, especially after we lost our two starting props, our regular full-back and fly-half.

“Credit must go to a number of new players – Rich Frost, Will Burrows, Sam Alderson and PJ Lloyd all made the shirt their own.

“I see no reason why we can’t aim for a top-three finish next year. We’ve got a few sevens tournaments ahead and we’re hoping for a really good pre-season as all the new players who came in October will have a whole summer with the squad.

“O’Hara is now back and so too is Sam Wilkinson, which will provide competition for places.”