RFU Junior Vase – Round 4 – 24/01/2015

Cheshunt were just edged out of the National cup, in a real nail biter at Rosedale on Saturday, by a big Wisbech team, who controlled most of the territory during the game, but for long periods were kept at bay by some heroic Cheshunt defence.
Wisbech enjoyed the better of the game from the start, but an organised Cheshunt defence, mostly kept them confined to the edge of the 22, a couple of overlap chances went begging and Cheshunt were happy to get their hands on the ball to counter. Dave Lever was first into the visitors half in possession, but re-cycled ball was spilt in midfield, Joel Bailey was next to pose a threat, but this time, a forward pass halted the attack.
However, Cheshunt were beginning to get on top and camped in the Wisbech 22, Ryan Hussey drove at the line and the visitors were forced to concede a penalty close to the posts. Instead of opting for an easy 3 points, a quick tap and go was fed to Bailey who stormed over, Johno Wicks added the extras and C’s had a 7-0 lead after 22 minutes.
Wisbech responded and strung together a continued assault on the Cheshunt line, they came close with a driving maul, but turned the ball over, but it was now the visitors turn to keep the pressure up in the danger zone. The home side defence remained defiant and forced the visitors to kick, great covering work from scrum half Lewis Daymon recognised the danger and took the mark and cleared.
Lever again was instrumental in getting C’s back up field, but the move broke down near the Wisbech line and they were quick to counter attack with turned over ball. They kept possession through many phases, the fly half thought he was through on half way, but a last ditch tackle by Daymon dragged him down, but Wisbech re-cycled well, switching play from left to right and back again, when they finally found some room down the left, the winger stormed round the outside and dived over in the corner after 35 minutes, to reduce the lead to 2 points.
Again Wisbech had the better of play at the start of the second half, but Cheshunt always looked more dangerous with ball in hand and Scott Glynn recognised a gap when Cheshunt were awarded a penalty just outside their 22, he found Bailey who in turn fed Billy Roberts and soon they were on the Wisbech 22. Although the move broke down, C’s excellent scrummage won the ball back against the head, Glynn spotted a gap down the right, and he broke through and passed back inside to Omid Amani, who dived over to restore the 7 point advantage.
Aydan Dulligall continued his recent good form with another tremendous performance at the breakdown, he was assisted when 17 year old Jack Dempsey came off the bench to make a fine debut, instrumental in both attack and defence. The front row of Tony Short, Jake Phillips and Ollie Martines, also helped by replacement Charlie Bagley always had the upper hand at the set piece and out wide Declan Walker made some tremendous tackles to snub out many attacks.
Both sides were desperate to get the next score, C’s to put the game away, Wisbech to level things up and the defence on both sides was outstanding, but just when Cheshunt thought they had squeezed home, they conceded a penalty a few yards out. There was just time for the lineout, which Wisbech duly won and after several attempts, the driving maul forced its’ way over in the corner, a superb touchline conversion into the stiff breeze levelled the score at 12 all and signalled the end of normal time.
Cheshunt raised the first attack of extra time when Glynn set Lever off again, but Wisbech countered and were awarded a penalty just inside the Cheshunt half. The attempt fell just short but the visitors remained in the Cheshunt half until the home defence finally ran out of men and a gap in the centre was exploited to give the lead to the away team for the first time, with the conversion, Cheshunt were aware that they would now have to score twice in the last ten minutes to progress to the next round.
The Green and Whites battered away at the Wisbech line, for the remainder of the game, but the visitors held on to deservedly go into the hat for the last 16.
Cheshunt return the league action this weekend when they entertain Feltham at Andrews Lane. They will be encouraged by a committed performance and with a Herts Presidents trophy semi-final in a couple of weeks, will hope to get back to winning ways in the two preceding league fixtures.
Short, Phillips, Martines, Hussey, Willcocks, Roberts, Dulligall, Bailey, Daymon, Wicks, Lever, Claridge, Amani, Walker, Saunders. Replacements – Bagley, Thorne, Dempsey, Glynn.