Herts/Middlesex 1 19/12/2016

Cheshunt played some of their best rugby of the season to dismiss London French in the first competitive meeting between the two teams, in the process they ran in seven unanswered tries and with the bonus point, moved a step closer to the promotion places at the top of the league. London French had the better of the opening exchanges when they kept possession inside the Cheshunt half, but when the home team got their hands on the ball, a long kick from Reece Shoobridge put C’s in the French 22 for the first time. Tom Claridge took play close to the whitewash when he ran a lovely line through the middle, a last ditch tackle by the full back denied him, but the home side kept possession through the phases, until Dave Angell was able to force his way over from close range, with Shoobridge’s conversion C’s had a 7-0 lead after just 7 minutes. Despite the sticky surface, Cheshunt were determined to keep the ball in hand and entertain the Christmas crowd and soon doubled their advantage, Joel Bailey smashed into the defensive line to put the attack on the front foot, Cheshunt worked their way towards the line and Angell was nearly in for a brace, he couldn’t quite get over, but had fellow front rower Gregg Morris in support to touch down, another successful kick put them 14-0 up after just 12 minutes. All departments were working well for Cheshunt, the set piece scrum and lineouts as always were reliable, at the breakdown Aydan Duligall and Mike Henderson ruled the roost, causing the French to continually gave away penalties when the ball was on the floor. Cheshunt were then able to switch their attacking options, lineouts gave them a secure ball, but they were at their most exciting with some quick tap and go’s, half backs Louis Mulholland and Johnno Wicks eager to launch the backs into action. Another prolonged attack led to the third try, having played some attractive rugby with controlled off loads, the ball was spread along the line, Conner Pearce found a gap on the 22 and stormed through, he sent the covering fullback the wrong way with an outrageous dummy and sprinted to the line, more extras had put the Green and Whites clear after 24 minutes. They were home and hosed just before the break when they picked up the bonus point, a rare French attack was halted when they spilt the ball on the Cheshunt 10 yard line; Wicks hacked ahead and was obstructed when he tried to tackle the covering defender. Dan Saunders took a quick tap from the resulting penalty and spotted Mulholland who from 20 metres out sprinted to the line to get over in the corner, the excellent Shoobridge conversion stretched the advantage to 28-0 at the break. Cheshunt thought they were to add to the total soon after the re-start, Wicks fed James Lennon who glided past the first defender and scooted down the right wing, as the cover came across he found Joel Bailey in space but was adjudged to have just put a foot in touch. All the play was in the French half with the ball flung from wing to wing, but C’s were a little frustrated at the constant slowing down of the ball at the breakdown by the visitors, which slowed their momentum. Another penalty on the 22 gave the chance for the forwards to rumble towards the line, they were stopped just short and a mix up at the back of the scrum gave the French defence a brief breather when they cleared to halfway. It didn’t last long, C’s were soon back on the attack when Wicks found some space out wide, using David Anthony as a dummy runner he sold the defence the wrong way and cut back inside for the first score of the half. Connor Pearce grabbed a brace when the pack drove towards the line following a catch and drive at the lineout, he peeled off the back of the maul and forced his way over for a 38-0 lead. The final try came just minutes from the whistle, scrum ball was fed along the line, Wicks ran wide and found Anthony on the switch, his quick feet got him past the remaining defenders and touched down for the third game in a row. This emphatic victory stretches the winning streak to 8 matches and 3 tough games in January might well determine the success of this season’s campaign, they return to league action on the 9th January when they travel to Verulamians, hoping to improve on the drawn result earlier in the season.
Angell, Morris, Hussey. R, Clark, Pearce, Henderson, Duligall, Bailey, Mulholland, Wicks, Saunders, Claridge, Amani, Anthony, Shoobridge. Replacements – Hussey. A, Hounslow, Lennon.