Herts/Middlesex 1 21/11/15

Cheshunt eased past Old Millhillians on Saturday, with a bonus point victory that lifts them into 3rd

position in Herts/Middlesex 1. They ran in 7 tries on a bitterly cold afternoon, all scored wide out

and place kickers on both teams had a day to forget, as from 13 shots at goal only one was

successful in the strong wind.

Cheshunt were soon into their stride and had the ball after Millhillians had spilt it soon after kick-off,

from the ten yard line they swept play from one side of the pitch to the other, keeping possession

and working their way towards the line. Greg Morris made a telling break to get behind the defence

and after a couple more phases, Reece Shoobridge spotted a gap and darted over after just 4

minutes.

Attacking from the re-start, they were soon back in the Millhillians 22. Dave Lever was tackled into

touch, but the Cheshunt lineout stole the ball against the throw, Jake Phillips took the ball closer to

the line and Millhillians gave a penalty away at the breakdown. A quick tap and go was stopped

illegally and Cheshunt went for the lineout option from the second penalty, as the pack moved

towards the posts, Johno Wicks ran down the blind side, his lovely break and nicely weighted pass

gave Alex Clark the chance to dive over in the corner and C’s had doubled their lead after 11

minutes.

Millhillians decided to use the strong wind to obtain field position and spent some time in the

Cheshunt half, but the travelling defence remained firm and when the home team were awarded a

simple penalty from 35 yards they opted to have a shot at goal, the kick hit the post and Cheshunt

were able to clear.

Cheshunt were fortunate when their next clearance kick was deflected from a Millhillians attempted

charge down into Clarks hands, he made ground to half way and C’s again kept possession towards

the Millhillians try line, Bobby Bolton and Conner Pearce combined in mid-field which created some

space for Lever to accelerate down the wing and add the third try after 20 minutes.

The home side missed a simple penalty opportunity but when given another chance made it third

time lucky to get on the board from 35 yards out.

Cheshunt were then guilty of wasting a couple of chances, Bolton and Clark set Lever free again, as

the cover came across, his nicely weighted kick was dealt with well by the full back, the C’s attackers

couldn’t pin him down and Millhillians cleared to half way. Then from a scrum, eager to give flying

winger David Anthony some space, Cheshunt attacked down the blind side, a loose pass was hacked

on by the home defence and from a promising position C’s were pinned back on their own line, they

remained there until Millhillians were able to operate a successful catch and drive from a lineout 10

metres out and reduce the advantage to 8-15 with just 4 minutes on the clock to the break.

That was plenty of time for Cheshunt to restore their 2 score lead, Aydan Duligall was soon out of

the blocks and up on the Millhillians fly half, he charged down a kick just outside the 22, Wicks

quickly picked up the loose ball and raced over for the bonus point try.

Neither side threatened very much for the first ten minutes of the second half until Shoobridge took

a quick tap from a penalty 40 yards out, he danced through the Millhillians defence and was just

stopped 5 metres short, the Cheshunt forwards re-cycled the ball and Marvin Brown barged over

from close range.

The Green and Whites were determined to turn all possession into attack, ignoring the wind they ran

the ball from all corners of the pitch and when a Millhillians kick down the pitch was fielded on the

22, they were quick to spot an opportunity, Omid Amani drew the cover and set Dan Saunders racing

down the left wing, a lovely feign inside created all the space he needed to go around the fullback

and touch down in the corner.

Skipper Tom Claridge received a yellow card, for persistent team offences at the breakdown, but it

didn’t stop Cheshunt running in their 7th try, again Greg Morris drove towards the line, when he was

stopped just short the rest of the forwards re-grouped and mauled over the line, Duligall in

possession when they crossed the whitewash.

The over eagerness to run everything from everywhere allowed Millhillians to score when C’s

dropped the ball on the 22, the home side reacted quickest and burst through some sloppy tackling

to get over in the corner. C’s then let their hosts in again 5 minutes from time, proud and spirited,

Millhillians showed why they are capable of producing upsets, especially at home, and a series of

driving mauls brought them some respectability to the score line at 18-35.

The players will enjoy a week off from the league campaign next Saturday and return to action the

following week when they entertain The Bank of England at Rosedale.

Team – Martines, Phillips, Morris, Brown, Clark, Pearce, Duligall, Bailey, Shoobridge, Wicks, Lever,

Claridge, Amani, Anthony, Bolton. Replacements – Angell, Henderson, Saunders.