Another opportunity missed, is the view, of a tightly if not particularly entertaining match and after controlling most of the game, coming away with a losing bonus point was scant reward for Cheshunt.
The home side started with a bang, working the ball up field following an early penalty. Alan Thorne, as he did all afternoon, breaking through the first tackle, getting beyond the gain line for the Cheshunt forwards to pile up field in support. After just 4 minutes Haringey were caught offside and Tim McSharry slotted the penalty from 30 metres.
From the re-start Cheshunt kept up the pressure, a long kick up field was poorly dealt with by Haringey but a Cheshunt knock on let them off the hook. However, a fantastic period of rugby saw Cheshunt retain the ball through over a dozen phases of play. The forwards, with Gary Barton and Alex Clark to the fore, working really hard to keep the ball and gain precious yards. When the ball was spun through hands along the backs, only a last ditch tackle kept winger Omid Amani from going over.
The Green and Whites remained in the Haringey 22 until 25 minutes were on the clock, finally from a kick and chase Haringey were able to relieve the pressure, crucially without conceding.
Play remained around half way until Cheshunt started to give away penalties at the breakdown, the Haringey kicker missed two easy chances and the home side went into the break 3-0 ahead.
Initially struggling in the scrum, Cheshunt adapted well and soon had parity in that area, Sean Donnelly and Chris Jones were enjoying the better of the lineout and C’s were generally still bossing the game when they wanted to.
Unfortunately, a collective lack of concentration and effort and some poor decision making allowed Haringey to grab a couple of scores, enough to win the match. Following yet another indiscretion from C’s at the breakdown, the visitors kicked up field for a line out 5 metres out. Several phases worked the ball in field and the forwards were able to power over. The simple conversion was missed but it wasn’t long before the visitors were back in the 22, another penalty this time converted and Haringey were 3-8 ahead.
The last 12 minutes saw Cheshunt throw everything at Haringey, very frustrating for the supporters as they were obviously capable of playing at a higher tempo for longer periods but took their foot off the pedal to allow Haringey into the match.
So for the second week in a row Cheshunt finished the stronger but had left it too late, the visitors knowing that an occasional piece of possession would be enough to send C’s back down field and despite debutant Dean Morrisey, replacements Gareth Lewis and Paul Barton and the continued hard work of Lee Chalk all battering away at the Haringey defence, the visitors held firm to hold on for victory.
In the most part another promising performance against one of the league leaders but if Cheshunt are to progress, they will have to learn how to win games when they can control most of the possession and territory.
Next week, Cheshunt visit London Nigerians and will hope to start climbing the table.
Martines (Lewis 49), Girdlestone, Chalk, Donnelly, Barton. G, Jones, Corcoran, Clark, McDonnell, Hayden (Boulton 61), Amani, Thorne (Barton.P), Morrisey, Lever, McSharry.
