Gallant Effort

Herts Presidents Trophy final 2015
Cheshunt 7 Royston 14
Cheshunt were just edged out of an enthralling contest, by a determined Royston team, who defended for long periods in their own 22, where they continued to make some bone crunching tackles and just managed to keep out the Cheshunt attackers, who threw everything at the line, in a desperate attempt to force extra time
A frustrating start to the game saw Cheshunt concede a string of penalties and Royston certainly had the better of the opening exchanges. From one of the penalties on halfway they quickly took a tap and an opening seemed to be available down the left wing, Cheshunt covered the break and were able to turn the ball over with a scrum. Cheshunt then created their first opportunity of the match, after Joel Bailey had broken from the set piece and fed Alex Clark, C’s poured into the Royston half, quick ball was fed along the line and it looked for a moment as if Dave Lever was free down the left, as the cover came across he lost his footing and Royston won the ball back.
Cheshunt were soon threatening again, a penalty on the 10 metre line gave Reece Shoobridge the chance to kick into the 22 for an attacking lineout, several phases led to an attacking scrum, but the move temporarily broke down when C’s were forced into touch. However, the clearing kick after a defensive lineout didn’t find touch and Johno Wicks was soon on the counter attack, the ball went through hands to Aydan Duligall who surged back into the Royston 22, finally the move broke down again and Royston were able to clear.
Royston kept the ball tight, preferring to throw their big forwards at the Cheshunt defence and rumble the ball up the middle, when Cheshunt impeded again at the breakdown, Alex Clark was yellow carded after the referee had issued a team warning. The strong Royston pack were able to take advantage of the extra man and after a number of forward drives and pressure near the Cheshunt line, they forced their way over by the posts, with the conversion they opened a 7-0 lead after 19 minutes.
From the re-start, the Green and Whites attacked and Royston infringed at the breakdown, but Shoobridge’s long penalty attempt went just wide. C’s mostly remained in the Royston half for the next twenty minutes, but were unable to get over the line and were further undone after a speculative kick down the right from the Royston fly half, the bouncing ball fell nicely for the right winger, who then passed inside to support and the full back had a clear run to the line, also converted, Royston had stretched to 14-0 just before the break.
There was still time for another long range penalty attempt from Cheshunt, but this time it fell just short and although Cheshunt then remained in the Royston 22 until the half time whistle, they were unable to get on the board.
The second half performance could not be faulted from Cheshunt, they gave everything they had and their effort was only matched by the heroic defensive performance by Royston, who just refused to give Cheshunt any space. The Cheshunt pack, as they have all season, were outstanding, Royston have been used to pushing the scrum around but got no change from Tony Short, Jake Phillips and Ollie Martines in the front row. Dave Angell and Josh Willcocks in the second row worked tirelessly, making tackles and securing ball and the back row trio of Clark, Duligall and Bailey were outstanding.
Half Backs Brad Ewing and Reece Shoobridge marshalled the game and centres Tom Claridge and Omid Amani were keen to continually test the Royston midfield with a series of powerful runs. Out wide Declan Walker and replacement Dan Saunders always looked threatening and perhaps most dangerous of all was full back Johno Wicks, who joined the line and made space, or counter attacked and inevitably, always beat the first man to set up yet another Cheshunt attack.
Nearly the whole second half was played in Royston territory, mostly in the 22, and when Royston cleared Brad Ewing collected the high ball, he fed Wicks, who broke through and found Shoobridge, in turn he fed Bailey who was hauled into touch just a metre short. Although Royston cleared, C’s were soon back and this time, after numerous forward drives, the defensive line was finally breached by Dave Angell, who crashed over, Shoobridge added the extras to set up a nerve racking final quarter.
Cheshunt had sent on fresh legs in the way of Alan Throne, Marvin Brown and Charlie Bagley and they helped to continue the assault on the Royston line. Desperate to attack from all possession, Cheshunt nearly slipped further behind after a spilt ball in the centre of the pitch, the ball was hacked down field by the full back and Royston had the ball in hand in the Cheshunt 22 for the first time in the second half. Shoobridge had halted the first attack when he just won the race to the bouncing ball, but was forced to concede a 5 metre scrum. The Cheshunt pack soon won the ball back and they were quickly back downfield in the Royston danger zone.
The game ended with Cheshunt searching for that elusive equalising try, they gave their all and full credit to Royston for an excellent defensive effort, a tight, brutal encounter was finally brought to an end when Royston were tackled into touch in goal behind their own posts.
Whilst disappointed with the result, Cheshunt go into the summer break, pleased with a season of progression and know that with continued improvement, they will be challenging for more honours next season.

Short, Phillips, Martines, Willcocks, Angell, Clark, Duligall, Bailey, Ewing, Shoobridge, Lever, Claridge, Amani, Walker, Wicks. Replacements – Bagley, Brown, Thorne, Saunders.