London 3 North West

Cheshunt pushed the league leaders all the way and were unlucky not to have anything to show for one of their best performances of the season, they will be encouraged by this showing against the only undefeated team in the league and will hope to start picking up points as they have a run of games against the sides that closer to them in the table. Another fantastic start put the visitors on the back foot, playing against the breeze, Cheshunt were soon into the Hackney half after thumping tackles from Joel Bailey and Alec Lawrence forced mistakes. Despite losing the ball close to the line, a lineout 15 metres secured possession, Marvin Brown peeled off the back of the maul and drove over for an early 5-0 lead. Cheshunt were lucky to get away with a dropped ball just inside their 22, the Hackney attackers kicked forward, but the ball just rolled beyond the dead ball line before they could touch down. The visitors then missed a penalty after 11 minutes, but it wasn’t long before they showed why they sit on top of the table, the first wave of attack was stopped when Frank Hall won the ball back at the breakdown, Cheshunt attacked but they too were turned over on the Hackney 10 yard line and the visitors quickly exploited the broken field, the ball was spun straight to the left winger and from the half way he out gassed the cover defence and cut back inside to score under the posts, with the conversion Hackney took the lead. Reece Shoobridge’s well struck penalty from 30 yards, put the home side back in front, but the visitors added a second try before the half time whistle, again the left winger finishing off a move in the corner which saw the visitors go into the break with a 8-12 advantage. Cheshunt started the second period as they had the first, sweeping moves that stretched the Hackney defensive resources, Bobby Bolton initiated the first real threat of the half when he broke through on halfway, Scott Glyn and Kaz Topham took play into the 22, but Hackney won the ball back and cleared. The home side though, remained on the attack and when Glyn broke through again, the move could only be stopped illegally; Shoobridge stepped up and popped over another penalty 11-12. Cheshunt were having the majority of the ball and the game, up until this point, had been mostly in the Hackney half, but against the run of play, Hackney suddenly picked a hole in the Cheshunt defence on halfway, support was on hand and again the ball was fed to the expert finisher on the left wing who crossed for his hat trick, the conversion stretched the visitors to 11-19. Shoobridge missed a tough penalty attempt and Cheshunt sniffed a chance, from at first a lineout, then a scrum, 5 yards from the line, but when those opportunities went begging, Hackney got down the other end and had their best period of the game. A continued spell of pressure close to the Cheshunt try line eventually created enough space to breach the line and extend the advantage to 11-26. Cheshunt threw everything at Hackney in the closing quarter, desperate defending saw the hooker sin binned for not giving the ball back at a penalty on the line and C’s stayed in the Hackney half. When the visitors tried long clearing kicks, they were returned by the ever threatening Bolton and when he again broke through, Cheshunt were quick to get the ball along the line, Charlie Porter and Louis Mulholland drew the defence and gave Richard Valentine enough room to go inside then outside the covering defence and touch down near the corner. There was time for one more play before the final whistle as the Green and Whites went searching for that elusive losing bonus point, it was not to be, but they will reflect on a fine performance, which if they can repeat in the weeks to come, will see them begin to climb the table. Cheshunt will enjoy the week off, which will give a chance for the injury list to shorten, before a visit to basement team Staines the following Saturday.