London 3 North/West 26/11/2016

Cheshunt 17 Kilburn Cosmos 17

Although Kilburn finished the game the stronger side, Cheshunt will rue missed first half

opportunities, that should have taken the game away from the visitors by half time, the sides remain

level on points in the league, as the bottom half of the table becomes very congested.

Cheshunt were soon on the board after they exerted pressure on Kilburn from the start, the visitors

spilt the ball on their own 10 metre line and Connor Pearce quickly realised that Sam Rule was in

space, Rule danced around the first two defenders and then sped under the posts untouched, Reece

Shoobridge converted and Cheshunt were 7-0 up after just 3 minutes.

Kilburn had a brief foray into the Cheshunt 22 following the re-start, but the home side soon won

the ball back and remained camped in the Kilburn half for most of the remainder of the first period.

The next attack came when Louis Mulholland broke clear on halfway, Alex Brown, as always, was in

support and he took play to the 22 and Cheshunt poured through, as wave after wave of Cheshunt

attacks started to threaten the Kilburn line.

The home side turned down a pot a goal and took a quick tap, but failed to get over the line, but

should added to their score when, following an attacking scrum on the 22, ball was fed along the

line, Scott Glynn came in from the blindside wing and cut through the defence and drew the full back

perfectly, but the scoring pass could not be collected.

The Green and Whites remained in the 22 and created numerous chances, but were unable to

convert any of them, three more times fingertip passes could not be collected with the try line at

their mercy. Finally after 32 minutes, the pressure finally paid off, keeping the ball through the

phases, Ryan Hussey was unstoppable from a few yards out to extend the lead to 12-0.

From the re-start, Kilburn were able to get into the Cheshunt 22 for only the second time when

Cheshunt gave a penalty at the break down, this time they remained in the danger zone until the

home side were caught offside and with the last kick of the half Kilburn were on the board.

Cheshunt started the second period as they had first, after both sides had turned the ball over,

Glynn intercepted on halfway and was soon in the visitors 22, C’s went through the phases working

closer to the line and Mulholland saw a gap on the left, Brown drew the last defender and Glynn

crossed in the corner after just 4 minutes, 17-3.

Kilburn had sorted out their set piece out and begun to get more of the ball and after 10 minutes of

sustained pressure they crossed the Cheshunt try line and with the difficult conversion they pulled

back to 17-10, with just under 30 minutes left on the clock.

The home side were creating fewer chances, but nearly were gifted a score when the visitors missed

a pass on the Cheshunt 10 metre line, Glynn fly hacked down the field, but his second kick just rolled

over the dead ball line before he could get there.

Kilburn levelled the scores with just 10 minutes on the clock; another score down the right hand side

was again expertly converted to set up a grand stand finish.

Shoobridge missed a penalty chance with 5 minutes on the clock and then Kilburn looked to nick all

the points in a game in which they had rarely threatened, with the last play of the game they threw

themselves at the Cheshunt line, but were penalised at the breakdown. Not settling for the draw,

with the chance of putting the ball into touch to signal the final whistle, Cheshunt took a quick tap

10 metres from their line, Glynn and Rule were instrumental in getting back into the Kilburn half but

they ran out of space and had to settle for a share of the points.

Cheshunt entertains Welwyn in the quarter final of the Herts Presidents trophy next Saturday, then

travel to Old Merchant Taylors in the league the following week.