By Lee Lashmore
Cheshunt Players; Sam Anderson, Zack Bowman, James Hayes, Dylon Hilton, Ben Lashmore, Daniel Smith, Nathan Doody
Today saw two new players take the field for their debut games for Cheshunt, Daniel Smith and Nathan Doody.
Match 1 – Cheshunt defended from the kick-off. The boys held their line well and kept pushing Bishops Stortford back. They got pretty close eventually to the Cheshunt try line, but some excellent tagging (I have to mention Ben Lashmore here who leapt like a salmon to take a tag) saw a turnover to Cheshunt. The boys moved well up the field exchanging passes, suddenly the ball was passed to Dylon Hilton by James Hayes and Dylon was gone, evading defenders weaving his way through and scoring a tremendous try. What a start, 1-0 to Cheshunt.
The next attack saw another turnover by Cheshunt. During the next series of runs, we saw some exceptional ball handling and also tremendous support play by all of the boys, this passage of play led to James Hayes scoring a wonderful try (you would not believe it was their 1st game of the season), 2-0 Cheshunt.
Bishops Stortford went on to score a try, but only after being pushed back up the field by our boys with more great tags, Score 2-1 Cheshunt.
That Score appeared to make our boys more determined to win. From the restart the ball was played along the line, the boys making progress advancing up the field, another superb bit of play culminated with Zack Bowman scoring, weaving his way through the defence to score another excellent try. Score 3-1 Cheshunt.
The restart by Bishops Stortford, was followed by another turnover by Cheshunt, the boys were on a roll and advanced towards the try line with Zack Bowman going on to score his 2nd try of the game. Score 4-1 Cheshunt, and half time. What a superb 1st half by the team.
Before the start of the 2nd half a large intake of fluid was required…. The second half began but unlike the 1st half Bishops Stortford started quickly and scored (4-2). Cheshunt not to be outdone replied quickly through another lovely try by James Hayes, his 2nd of the game (score 5-2). The stand out try in the 2nd half for Cheshunt came from Ben Lashmore, who ran his way through the Stortford defence to score a wonderful try (6-2).
Stortford scored to take the score to (6-3), but it was not long before James Hayes decided he wanted to score a hat-trick of tries, which he duly did (7-3).
Stortford scored to move the score onto 7-4.
Cheshunt in control of the game and looking to score a further try, Zack Bowman obliged scoring a hat-trick of tries also (8-4). Bishops Stortford went on to score their last try of the match. The ref blew the whistle to signify the end of the match. Both teams scoring 4 tries in the second half with Cheshunt winning the game 8-5 and playing against 8 players fielded by the opposition, well done Under 7’s, what a fantastic start to the new season.
Match 2 – The boys were now going to play two fresh sets of 7’s from Stortford, Stortford would play a new 7 in the 1st half and a fresh set of 7’s in the 2nd half… the boys were going to be up against it now you felt.
The match started and Cheshunt showed no sign of letting-up on their opposition…after a few moves the ball was with Sam Anderson, who threw the pass of the match to release James Hayes to score the opening try of match 2, one nil to Cheshunt.
Bishop Stortford replied to make the score 1-1
Cheshunt kept their discipline moving the ball and advancing up the field. Ben Lashmore picking the ball up on the right wing evading player after player to eventual score in the left hand corner, a great run from one side of the pitch to the other, score 2-1 Cheshunt.
Stortford replied to bring the game back to all square at 2-2. The next try will be a try that one of our debutants will never forget, Nathan Doody with an excellent run, going on to score his very 1st try for Cheshunt, well done.
The whistle went, with the 1st half ending with Cheshunt 3-2 up, but with the boys really knackered, they were to face a fresh set of 7’s from Stortford, could they hang on…..
The 2nd half began with play being pretty even, however with some excellent tagging by Cheshunt they managed to turn-over the ball… advancing towards the Stortford try line with the boys supporting the player in possession extremely well, the ball was released to Daniel Smith who went on to score his 1st try on debut. Well done Daniel, showing a lot of promise in his 1st match, score 4-2 Cheshunt. Stortford then scored a return try, 4-3 to Cheshunt
Well, not wanting to be outdone and to ensure that he did not leave the field empty handed, Sam Anderson pressed forward, the heat not seeming to bother him, he was tagged, that did not deter the young boy, he was determined to score his try, he found his way back up behind his team mate, the ball was released to Sam and away he went, over the try to score. An important try as it kept daylight between us and Stortford, score 5-3 Cheshunt. Well done Sam, great determination.
Stortford scored, 5-4 to Cheshunt.
With the Game finely balanced and time running out we needed another try…. and we were not to be disappointed. Ben Lashmore after some fine ball handling by the entire team was there to get the ball over the line, scoring a hat-trick of tries too, score 6-4 Cheshunt. Stortford scored with hardly any time left on the clock to make the score 6-5 to Cheshunt.
The ref blew the final whistle, what a game, final result 6-5 to Cheshunt.
Well done to the entire team, who all played great today. What a way to start the 1st game of the season.
A great comment also came from the Bishop Stortford coach, who said “your lads are a credit to Cheshunt Rugby Football Club and to rugby as a whole for playing in the heat without once complaining”
2010 CRFC Registration
RFU Youth Registration Form
