Hertfordshire Presidents Trophy

Watford 3 Cheshunt 32

Cheshunt stormed through to the final of the Herts Trophy, with a comprehensive second half display, against a well drilled, competitive and physical Watford team. The home side had already knocked out the holders, Verulamians and were hoping to progress in a cup, in which they have previously won.
Both teams exchanged long kicks in the early minutes, looking for some territory to start an attack and when Watford were caught in possession 35 yards out, they didn’t release and Reece Shoobridge slotted the penalty after 8 minutes. Cheshunt were guilty of the same infringement from the re-start, but the penalty attempt from Watford fell short.
Cheshunt continued to give away soft penalties and another attempt to level the scores went wide. Determined to play some more adventurous rugby, C’s attacked from deep, Dave Lever took the ball into the Watford half and re-cycled ball was then kicked into the 22, a scrambled defence was forced to concede a scrum and when the home side infringed again at the breakdown, Shoobridge doubled the score after 22 minutes. It was soon back to 3 points, six minutes later, following another penalty for not releasing, this time, the Watford kicker put his kick between the posts.
The forward battle was keenly contested, the front row of Tony Short, Jake Phillips and Ollie Martines were in control of the scrum, but the big Watford side enjoyed dominance in the line out. At the breakdown, Aydan Duligall and Josh Willcocks forced turnover ball, Alex Clark, Dave Angel and Marvin Brown never took a backward step in defence and were always willing runners when Cheshunt had won back possession.
Cheshunt were beginning to get on top and were spending more time in the Watford danger zone, a chip ahead from Shoobridge was collected by winger Declan Walker, he rounded the first defender and dragged two more over the line, but was unable to get the ball down. Watford conceded another penalty and Cheshunt opted for the scrum, but threw away possession with a not straight put in, however Watford were unable to clear beyond halfway and back came Cheshunt into the 22, this time they fed ball along the line and Lever knows the way to the white wash to touch down for a 3-11 advantage at the break.
Both sides struggled to maintain possession in the first ten minutes of the second period, a heavy shower disrupting any chance of an expansive game, but when it stopped, C’s burst into life and soon put the game beyond their hosts. Following a number of penalties close to touch in the Watford 22, the ball found its way to Walker, who spun out of tackles and was stopped just short of the line, quick ruck ball was given to Phillips who powered over from short range, Shoobridges’ extras took the score to 3-18.
Scrum half Lewis Daymon kept the Watford defence on their toes with some sniping runs, creating some space for the forwards to make some yards. When the ball went wide, Tom Claridge and Omid Amani in the centre were as creative in attack as they had been secure in defence and fullback Dan Saunders was quick to join the line to make some space for the wingers. Cheshunt were now in complete control and the emptied bench helped to keep C’s in the ascendancy, Charlie Bagley and Billy Roberts kept up the pressure in the front row, Alan Thorne added some power in the back row and Richard Valentine slotted seamlessly into the back line.
Cheshunt stretched away when Clark collected an over throw at the line out, he took the ball through the first line of defence and fed Thorne on the 22, he ran under the posts for another easy conversion and with 20 minutes left on the clock, the Green and Whites led 3-25.
The remainder of the game was played in the Watford half, to their credit the home side gave their all in defence and kept the Cheshunt attacks at bay until Marvin Brown picked from the back of a ruck 20 metres out, he stormed to the line and another conversion from Shoobridge completed the scoring.
Cheshunt will meet Royston in the final, to be played at Allianz Park in April. This Saturday, Cheshunt welcomes Barnet to Andrews Lane in the league.

Short, Phillips, Martines, Brown, Willcocks, Clark, Duligall, Angel, Daymon, Shoobridge, Lever, Claridge, Amani, Walker, Saunders. Replacements – Roberts, Bagley, Thorne, Valentine.