Cheshunt Rugby

London 2 North West by Steve Waller

Cheshunt wasted another opportunity to pick up points on the road, London Welsh crossed the Cheshunt try line four times in twenty second half minutes, so despite controlling the game for most of the first half and looking stronger at the final whistle, they returned to Hertfordshire pointless.

Both sides gave away early penalties at the breakdown, so play was restricted to the middle third of a large pitch until C’s were able to create some space down the left wing and worked their way into the 22. A series of penalties allowed the Green and Whites to apply pressure on the Welsh line, but they looked to have lost their chance with a knock on, just inches short. However the Cheshunt set piece kept winning the ball back and only first class tackling from the home side kept Cheshunt out. The Welsh finally got the ball out of the 22 but it fell straight to Dave Lever, he cut through the London Welsh back line, then side stepped the full back to touch down under the posts, Reece Shoobridge added the easy conversion for a 0-7 lead.

The home side got into C’s 22 from the re-start, the visitors didn’t clear their lines and conceded a penalty, the attempt was pulled wide but London Welsh continued to press. A ball against the head saw Cheshunt win the ball back and they went through the phases until Adam Chantler was able to break down the right wing. He kept the ball alive 20 yards out and C’s maintained possession until awarded a penalty in front of the posts, which gave Shoobridge the chance to stretch the lead to 0-10.

Another poorly dealt with re-start gave the Welsh another pot at goal and they pulled back 3 points.

Cheshunt continued to enjoy the majority of possession and territory, but a spilt ball on the 22 was quickly kicked up field and the Welsh ended the first half on the attack, Cheshunt’s defence kept the score to 3-10 at the break.

The visitors had an early opportunity at the start of the second period, but lost the ball at the lineout 20 yards out, the Welsh backs broke quickly and after a few phases the right winger was able to run in unopposed from 30 yards, under the posts and with the easy conversion the scores were level.

The reds had their tails up and only a last gasp tackle from Geoff Hayden kept them out from the next attack and both sides were attacking at every opportunity and the play went from end to end.

The game quickly slipped away from Cheshunt, when the big London Welsh second row added a brace of tries in a couple of minutes, both from 15 yards out, the first he crashed through tackles, the second he went over unhindered, after a clever inside pass from the fly half. London Welsh soon had their try bonus point and with 20 minutes left had a 25-10 advantage.

Jack Girdlestone and Alex Clark had both retired injured, Sean Donnelly and Lee Chalk entering the fray, and then both sides were reduced to 14 men when Dave Lever and his opposite number had their second disagreement.

Cheshunt picked up the pace and enjoyed a prolonged period in the London Welsh 22 and felt they were unlucky not to be rewarded to get back in the game when the Welsh scrum half deliberately knocked the ball on, whilst in an offside position, preventing a certain try. They stayed in the Welsh half, Dave Angell broke from the back of a scrum, he was tackled 20 metres out but Cheshunt kept hold of the ball until the quick feet of Shoobridge got him through a gap and he scampered over the line, he also added the extras to reduce the deficit to 25-17. For all their effort in the last few moments they were unable to get back on the score sheet and so were denied even a losing bonus point from a game in which victory was well within their grasp.

A difficult trip to Finchley awaits them next week.

Short, Girdlestone (Chalk 49), Martines, Mason, Linsell, Angell, Duligall, Clark (Donnelly 61), Shoobridge, Claridge, Lever, Boulton, Amani, Chantler, Hayden.

London 3 North West By Steve Waller

Cheshunt wasted an opportunity to leapfrog their Hertfordshire rivals in another Jekyll and Hyde performance. A dominant first half was only marred by their inconsistent finishing and so a lead which should have been beyond the visitors in the first half hour was quickly caught by Hitchin in the second half and ultimately they ran out easy winners.

Early Cheshunt pressure led to Hitchin conceding a penalty, a kick to the 22 and a catch and drive got Cheshunt near the line, but a knock on at the resulting scrum allowed Hitchin to clear. Geoff Hayden countered from his own half, the ball shipped along the line to Dave Lever, who rounded his man and as the full back covered, chipped the ball to within a yard of the line, the retrieving Hitchin right winger deliberately stopped the Cheshunt attack when he played the ball from an offside position and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try and sent the offending winger to the sin bin. Reece Shoobridge slotted the easy conversion.

The home side were straight back in the Hitchin half from the re-start, from a lineout 30 yards out on the right, the Cheshunt backs were quick to use their extra man, Lever wide out on the left found his fellow winger Jack Gutteridge in support and he was able to dive over in the corner, C’s had a 12-0 lead after just 12 minutes.

The visitors secured their first possession of the match and looked dangerous inside the Cheshunt 22, but when C’s won the ball back, Hayden noticed a gap and soon found Lever in support, another penalty for Cheshunt allowed them again to kick to the corner, but this time they were guilty of holding on and Hitchin were relieved to escape without further punishment.

Ben Hounslow instigated the next attack, he chipped ahead and collected the ball on the visitors 22, his pass found Lever but as he dived for the corner he was unable to ground the ball.

Another attack down the left followed a ball against the head on the 10 metre line, Alex Clark set Lever on his way but an inside pass just 12 metres out could not be collected.

A mix up in the middle of the pitch gave Hitchin a chance to get on the board, they fly hacked through and Cheshunt slowed the ball down on the 22, the kick was missed and Dave Angell led the next foray towards the Hitchin line, again Cheshunt let their opponents off the hook with a dropped pass.

A deep Hitchin kick was collected by Hayden, he beat the first two players following up and a chip ahead was found by Gutteridge, another Hitchin penalty gave C’s another chance to kick to the corner, but again they wasted the opportunity and would live to rue the missed chances as the went into the break with a slender 12-0 lead.

An early penalty to Cheshunt in the second period missed touch and went over the dead ball line, from the scrum back on halfway, Hitchin kept possession until they were able force their way over near the posts for an easy conversion. From the re-start Cheshunt were not able to deal with a kick ahead, Hitchin were soon on the mistake and with bodies in support were able to score in the right corner to level the scores with over half an hour left on the clock.

The visitors soon had the lead when they converted a simple penalty in front of the posts. C’s had rung the changes and Omid Amani nearly got away with his first touch of the ball, tackled into touch just 5 metres out.

Due to injuries Cheshunt were forced to alter the line up, several players playing out of position and the task of retrieving the game was made more difficult when Aydan Duligall received a yellow card. As the match made its way towards conclusion Hitchin were playing the better rugby, they missed another penalty attempt but were able to remain in the Cheshunt danger zone until they were rewarded with another try, with the conversion they had a ten point victory 12-22.

A break in the league campaign will give Cheshunt the chance to re-group before they travel to London Welsh, although the basement side the Welsh have had a recent run of impressive results and C’s will have their work cut out at Old Deer Park if they are to come away with a result.

Short, Girdlestone, Phillips, Hounslow, Linsell (Bailey 49), Angell, Duligall, Clark, Shoobridge (Chalk 64), Claridge, Gutteridge, Boulton, Thorne (Amani 64), Lever, Hayden.

London 3 North West By Steve Waller

Cheshunt started the New Year as they finished the last, a tremendous first half hour, blowing away the opposition, and securing the try bonus point, but failing to keep the momentum going throughout the match and allowed Datchworth to come back into the game when they gave away penalties at the breakdown.

Flying winger Dave Lever completed his hat-trick in that whirlwind 30 minutes and was to add a 4th in the second half, Datchworth were unable to keep him contained and he remained a threat from any part of the pitch.

Following a knock on from the kick off, the home side were penalised for collapsing the scrum, Reece Shoobridge kicked to the corner and after several pick and drives the visitors inched towards the line, Cheshunt declined the option of a kick at goal when awarded another penalty, choosing instead to keep the pressure on the line with more forward drives, they were rewarded when the pack were able to drive over, Lever had joined his forwards and he secured the touch down in the corner.

Cheshunt kept possession from the re-start, going through the phases, Joel Bailey, Alex Clark and Ben Hounslow making the hard yards up to the Datchworth 22, then the ball was spun along the line and Lever had enough space to squeeze in the corner and Cheshunt had a 0-10 lead after just 6 minutes.

A dropped ball in mid-field gave Datchworth their first attacking opportunity, a clever grubber kick through from the centre was collected by the right winger, he was tackled just inside the Cheshunt 22 but the home side were penalised for not rolling away. The visitors counter attacked through Omid Amani down the right wing who took the ball to 20 yards out, when Datchworth were caught offside, desperately trying to slow the Cheshunt onslaught down, Shoobridge slotted the kick.

The Cheshunt scrum were beginning to get on top and when Jack Girdlestone nicked a ball against the head, No.8 Bailey immediately attacked, supported by Clark they surged deep into the Datchworth 22, the ball was then spun along the line to the specialist finisher, who didn’t disappoint, Lever had his third and C’s had raced away to a 0-18 lead after 20 minutes.

Despite the breezy conditions, Cheshunt handling was first class and the try of the match secured the try bonus point. From just inside his 10 yard line, Geoff Hayden put up a cross kick for Lever, he collected the ball on the half way line and beat several players whilst meandering his way to the 22, he found support from Clark and then Andy Mason, with all the forwards in close attendance, re-cycled ball gave Tom Claridge the chance to give Lever a nicely weighted pass just 10 metres out, Datchworth had doubled up on Lever, but his inside pass was superbly collected by Ayden Duligall who dived over in the corner, with Shoobridge adding the extras with an excellent conversion from the touchline the lead was extended to 25 points.

Slowly the home team were coming back into the match, stringing more phases together and keeping possession for longer periods, helped by a couple of Cheshunt penalties they worked to within 10 yards of the Cheshunt line, a well organised catch and drive from the lineout got them over the line and they were finally on the scoreboard.

Cheshunt though had the last word in the half, Datchworth again guilty of not rolling away at the breakdown and from 30 yards Shoobridge gave Cheshunt a halftime lead of 5-28.

Determined to put the game beyond the home team, Cheshunt attacked from the second half kick off, Clark and Bailey instrumental in working the ball back into the Datchworth half, but another penalty gave the ball away and Datchworth kept possession until they were able to score in the corner to narrow the lead to 18 points.

With their tails up and kicking down the slope, the home side started to play their best rugby of the game, Cheshunt assisting them with poor decisions at the breakdown, trying to force the play they often gave away cheap penalties. Datchworth were soon over the line again, this time their forwards driving at the Cheshunt defence, with the conversion they had pulled back to 17-28.

Finally, Cheshunt strung some phases together, another break by Amani down the right wing was halted by a high tackle, from the lineout, Centre Alan Thorne tore through the middle, it had sucked in the defence and quick re-cycled ball was given to Hayden who ghosted through a gap and dived over the whitewash, with the conversion Cheshunt had restored the 18 point gap halfway through the second period.

The home side continued to threaten and Cheshunt thought they might be in for a nervy last 15 minutes. Datchworth touched down in the right corner to earn the try bonus point, then Thorne was yellow carded for not releasing after the tackle, the home side continued to press but a spilt ball gave Hayden the chance to break out of his 22, he passed to Lever on half way and his strength and pace was enough to see off the remaining Datchworth defenders and he strolled over for his 4th try of the match, and complete the scoring at 22-40.

The victory was enough to move Cheshunt into the top half of the table for the first time this season, they will hope to push on and a top four position is not out of reach, they continue their campaign next Saturday with a home match against Hitchin.

Martines, Girdlestone, Short (Phillips 61), Hounslow, Mason, Clark, Duligall (Angell 63), Bailey, Shoobridge, Claridge, Amani (Gutteridge 53), Thorne, Boulton, Lever, Hayden

London 3 North West By Steve Waller

Cheshunt gained revenge for their cup exit and the earlier league encounter against Barnet, with an emphatic first half display that blew their opponents away. Playing some fast, open attractive rugby it was played at a pace that would be difficult to maintain for the whole game and in the end, Cheshunt were hanging on to a valuable win.

An early penalty after 3 minutes was missed by the home side but they continued to threaten the Barnet line and from a lineout Alex Clark powered over for a 5-0 lead.

They attacked from the restart; it wasn’t long before the backs had made room for left winger Dave Lever to easily outpace the Barnet defence and touch down under the posts, Reece Shoobridge added the conversion.

Completely rampant, the Green and Whites attacked at every opportunity, the Barnet back line looked shell shocked, unable to cope with unrelenting surges. Playing out of position in the centre, Dean Gardener started the next attack, he tore through a number of would be tacklers and took the ball from his own 22 to within 15 yards of the Barnet line, only a high tackle halted his progress and Shoobridge slotted the kick to extend the lead to 15-0.

The visitors finally were able to string some phases together and they got on the board with a penalty after 25 minutes.

Cheshunt were playing with a new found authority, half backs Shoobridge and Tom Claridge having plenty of time to give Gardener and fellow centre Alan Thorne the opportunity to further test the defensive qualities of their Barnet counterparts, both continuing to make impressive yards up the middle.

When fullback Geoff Hayden joined the line just inside his own half, it was enough to offer another small overlap to Lever, collecting Hayden’s pass on halfway, he brushed aside a couple of defenders and raced to the corner to secure his brace and a 20-3 advantage.

A nicely worked move at the back of the lineout, led to the bonus point try, Clark collected the ball just inside the Barnet half and immediately attacked, he found Joel Bailey in support who went through the first tackler, drew the full back and returned the ball to Clark to complete his brace as he ran in under the posts, with Shoobridges extras Cheshunt had a convincing 27-3 lead, 5 minutes before the break.

A series of penalties allowed the visitors to get deep into Cheshunt territory, this time they kept the ball tight until they spotted a gap out wide on the right, with the last move of the half Barnet touched down to reduce the deficit to 27-8.

Barnet completely changed tactics for the second period, playing a much tighter game they attempted to grind down Cheshunts resilience. It nearly worked, C’s holding on at the end, defending with the same enthusiasm as they had attacked with in the first half.

Defending the catch and drive at the lineout was to prove too difficult and following a couple of penalties for collapsing the maul, the referee had seen enough and after 12 minutes went under the posts for a penalty try, with the conversion the gap had narrowed to 12 points.

Although C’s had their moments in the last 30 minutes, it was mostly backs to the wall defending, Bailey was sent to the sin bin for collapsing another maul, another lineout, another catch and drive and Barnet crossed in the corner to further reduce the gap to just 7 points.

The Cheshunt forwards battled heroically, despite being under the cosh at the set piece, they maintained their defensive discipline, especially when on their own line and tackle after tackle kept Barnet at bay. The last 10 minutes saw Barnet throw everything at the home side and just when it looked like they might grab an equalising score, C’s were let off the hook when the right winger was sent to the bin for foul play, the referee reversing his penalty and C’s able to inch up field. Finally the whistle came and Cheshunt were able to celebrate the win.

Two important league fixtures follow the Christmas break, a visit to Datchworth on the 7th January is followed by a home game to Hitchin.

Martines, Girdlestone, Short, Hounslow, Angell (Boulton 63), Clark (Barton 70), Duligall, Bailey, Shoobridge, Claridge, Lever, Gardener, Thorne, Chantler, Hounslow

London 3 North West By Steve Waller

Cheshunt were comprehensively beaten by London Nigerians who occupy second spot in the league and on this form will hope to gain promotion.

The visitors started brightly, taking advantage of a knock on from the kick off, they forced Nigerians into giving away an early penalty for not releasing at the breakdown and Reece Shoobridge gave them a 3 point start. Just 3 minutes later the scores were level when Cheshunt were guilty of the same offence, Nigerians then moved ahead on their next attack, a catch and drive at the lineout got them over in the corner for an 8-3 lead.

The home side had the advantage of the stiff breeze in the first period and were able to often clear down field with long kicks, they also looked dangerous with ball in hand, powerful runners always eager to test the visiting defence.

Cheshunt had their moments, Omid Amani breaking out of his 22 and over the halfway line gave the Cheshunt forwards some momentum and C’s were soon back in striking distance. Nigerians were forced to give away a penalty near the right touchline, Shoobridge’s effort was held up in the breeze but Andy Mason won the ball back, another penalty this time from the left touch line sailed narrowly wide.

Although Cheshunt continued to compete in most areas, they were unable to create very little in the way of scoring opportunities, their opponents were far more ruthless and with two visits to the Cheshunt 22, scored two more tries. From a 5 metre scrum, the scrum half created enough room for the fly half to dive over near the posts. Then from another scrum near the Cheshunt line, the centre was able to cross the whitewash, both tries were converted to give the hosts a 22-3 lead at the break.

Any hopes the Green and Whites had of getting back in the game quickly vanished, after dealing with the first Nigerian onslaught, Cheshunt kicked down field, the right winger collected the ball on the half way line and then ran straight back through some very flimsy Cheshunt tacklers to score under the posts. Nigerians had their try bonus point and extended the score to 29-3.

The home side lost a second row to the bin for dangerous play on 17 minutes and Cheshunt took immediate advantage, from the penalty they kicked down the line, a couple of phases and the maul had moved to 20 metres out, Adam Chantler noticed a gap, peeled off the back and touched down in the corner, 29-8.

Nigerians soon added a penalty to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Cheshunt kept the ball alive whenever possible but most attacks came from deep, often looking most threatening with skipper Geoff Hayden returned loose kicks, they were unable to add to their score and more poor tackling near the end of the match allowed Nigerians to score another soft try and with the conversion complete the scoring at 39-8.

Cheshunts last league game before the Christmas break brings Barnet to Andrews Lane, another side with promotion aspirations.

Martines, Girdlestone, Short, Mason (Lynn 68), Chantler, Angell (Jaggs 46), Duligall (Linsell 56), Hounslow, Shoobridge, Claridge, Lever, Boulton, Thorne, Amani, Hayden

London 3 North West by Steve Waller

A Cheshunt victory against old rivals West London keeps them slowly climbing away from the bottom of the table, turning in one of their better performances of the season so far.
Once again they started poorly; giving away early points, a lack of concentration in the defensive line allowed the West London fly half to break through deep into the Cheshunt 22, offside at the ruck gave the visitors an easy penalty kick and a 0-3 lead after 2 minutes.

Cheshunt raised several promising attacks, looking dangerous up until the 22, poor decisions in the red zone let West London off the hook.

After 12 minutes Ben Hounslow reacted quickest to a loose ball just inside the West London half, the rest of the forwards took the ball to 15 yards out and the visitors were penalised for not releasing in the tackle, the following lineout was held up just short but from the scrum No 8 Joel Bailey picked and drove over near the corner to give C’s the lead at 5-3.

The re-start was not collected by the Green and whites and West London were able to spend some time in the Cheshunt 22, they remained there until they too created an opportunity from a scrum near the line, despite the Cheshunt protests of the Scrum turning through 90 degrees, the try was awarded to put the visitors back in front after 22 minutes, with the conversion, they led by 5 points at 5-10.
Skipper Geoff Hayden started the next Cheshunt attack, fielding the ball in his 22, he countered, eluding the West London kick chasers, then finding support from the rest of his backs, the ball was illegally slowed down at a ruck 35 yards out and Reece Shoobridge narrowed the gap to 2 points with a well struck penalty 35 yards out, into the stiff breeze.

A much better re-start saw Bailey run through several tacklers, Omid Amani took the ball down the wing and Cheshunt swarmed up field, another penalty attempt was just wide from Shoobridge, but Cheshunt were now in the ascendancy. West London using the wind to relieve pressure, but Cheshunt were now playing the enterprising rugby and were starting to look the better team but still unable to add to their score before half time.
It didn’t take them long in the second period to regain the lead, turning down a simple penalty chance, they opted to kick for the corner, and this time the catch and drive at the lineout was successful, Alex Clark driving over the line for a 13-10 advantage.

Yet another mistake at the re-start gave West London a chance to draw level with a shot a goal, the attempt went wide. From the 22 drop out, Bailey secured the ball with a great catch, Hayden then cleared down field and Cheshunt were back on the attack.

The home side were reduced to 14 men after Dave Lever was penalised for coming in at the side of a ruck, but they didn’t allow West London any opportunities, Jake Phillips and Jack Girdlestone keeping the visiting forwards on the back foot with some powerful rucking.

Half way through the half, a Shoobridge penalty from 40 yards extended the lead to 16-10, almost immediately pegged back by the visitors when Phillips was deemed guilty of killing the ball just outside the 22. He too was sent to the bin and C’s would have a nervous test, defending again with 14 men.

They still enjoyed the better of the exchanges, Andy Mason and Ross Boulton carrying the ball deep into the West London half, replacement Gary Barton making the hard yards around the fringes of rucks and mauls, then Dave Angell was on hand to accept a pass 20 yards out on the gain line, he side stepped the full back to cross the white wash and put the game beyond the visitors. The second half lasted an incredible 57 minutes and West London were only able to muster one long range penalty attempt, trying to earn the losing bonus point, the attempt fell short and Hounslow was on hand to return the ball back up field.

A trip to London Nigerians is next up for Cheshunt, they lie second in the league and will prove a sterner test, but if Cheshunt can maintain their form and eliminate some of the more obvious mistakes, they can be a match for any team in the league.
Martines, Girdlestone, Phillips, Mason, Hounslow, Clark (Duligall 60), Angell, Bailey (Chantler 68), Shoobridge, Claridge, Amani, Boulton, Corcoran (Barton 70), Lever, Hayden