Herts/Middlesex 1 16/01/2016

Cheshunt extended their winning streak to ten matches, with another bonus point victory against a

very competitive UCS Old Boys team, who frequently threatened to spoil the home side’s record.

Because the Andrews Lane pitches were so wet, the game was played on the excellent surface at

Broxbourne school.

Cheshunt started well and earnt a succession of penalties, as initially UCS failed to cope with the

quick tap and goes, not retreating quick enough and entering rucks from the side, soon put Cheshunt

in a position where Reece Shoobridge was able to convert a penalty from in front, 35 metres out and

put the first points on the board after 5 minutes.

The re-start was kicked directly into touch and from the scrum, Connor Pearce picked and charged

into the visitors defence, he was finally stopped just inside the 22, but C’s were unable to control the

re-cycled ball and UCS cleared. The bigger UCS pack started to secure more and more possession

and they had a chance to draw level after 15 minutes, but the long range penalty attempt narrowly

missed, but with more ball, the visitors spent long periods in and around the Cheshunt 22, dogged,

determined defence kept them at bay and they were unable to break through the Cheshunt line.

Any ball Cheshunt won was used quickly, Shoobridge, always on the move, kept backs and forwards

interested with sniping runs, then either offloading to the pack or spinning ball out wide for the

backs to launch another attack.

It was C’s turn to exert some pressure and they camped in the UCS 22, a couple of chips ahead were

fielded by the visitors defenders and they touched down for 22 drop outs, but the clearing kicks

were fielded by Bobby Bolton and he soon got C’s back in the danger zone. A sustained attack on the

line with a succession of penalties was only stopped illegally and the UCS hooker was sent to the bin

for not retreating 10 yards from yet another penalty. Cheshunt opted for the lineout and secure ball

was caught and driven over the line, Connor Pearce controlling the drive and emerging with the ball

for the clubs 50th league try of the season.

UCS missed another pot at goal, but as soon as C’s had their hands on the ball, the visitors couldn’t

help themselves and gave away more penalties which enabled the home team to get back in the 22.

More quick taps from the penalties saw Alex Clark get close, yet another penalty was again quickly

taken and Ben Hounslow spun out of the first tackle and dragged two defenders over the line to

increase the advantage to 13-0.

Cheshunt finished the half on top, playing all the rugby in the UCS 22, Pearce, Clark and Dave Angell

all coming close to adding to the score, but were just stopped short and the visitors were relieved to

get the ball into touch to signal the half time whistle.

UCS looked a changed team in the second period and really began to turn the screw, particularly at

the scrum, C’s were starting to get pushed off the ball and the slender lead was beginning to look a

little fragile. Mike Henderson and Aydan Duligall were stopping most attacks at source, bringing

down the big forwards in midfield, the UCS backs were getting little change out of Tom Claridge and

Omid Amani in the centre and resorted to kicking in an effort to try and gain some field position, this

too proved fruitless, Bolton and Wicks either returned the kicks or set another Cheshunt attack on

its way.

One of the long kicks was fed to winger Dan Saunders, celebrating his 100th league appearance, he

sped down the right wing and took play back into the UCS 22, the ball was then worked across the

field and another drive by the forwards was again stopped just short, Pearce and Gregg Morris both

nearly forced themselves over the line, but the visitors defence held and when C’s spilt the ball, the

visitors cleared.

Cheshunt had another chance from a catch and drive at the lineout, but again it was stopped just

short and with the bigger UCS pack now completely dominating the scrum, C’s were in for a testing

20 minutes in the middle of the half. UCS turned over another scrum just inside the Cheshunt half,

the fly half made a searing break through the middle, then fed the ball along the line and the move

was neatly finished off by the left winger who touched down in the corner, the conversion had put

the visitors right back in the game at 13-7, with 13 minutes left on the clock.

C’s were looking down the barrel, as from the re-start UCS were comfortable going through the

phases and working their way out of their half, as they looked to attack down the blind side, Dave

Lever spotted the loose pass, he intercepted and was easily quick enough to outpace any covering

defence and cruised in under the posts, the extras from Shoobridge re-instated the 13 point

advantage.

That score rather deflated the visitors and Cheshunt were now searching for the bonus point try in

the last 10 minutes and were determined to keep play in their opponents half. Pearce and Angell

won the ball back at the re-start with some excellent counter rucking, Bolton forced another penalty

from the visitors at the next breakdown and after an exchange of kicks, Johnno Wicks put C’s back in

the 22. UCS also keen to keep the ball alive were held up 20 metres from their own line and

Cheshunt quickly heeled the ball back from the resulting scrum. Joel Bailey broke down the blind

side, drew the cover and passed inside for Henderson to touch down for the all-important 4th try, it

completed the scoring just minutes from the final whistle at 25-7.

Fellow promotion hopefuls London Welsh also recorded a bonus point victory and they are the

visitors to Andrews Lane next week.

Dave Angell, Gregg Morris, Ryan Hussey, Ben Hounslow, Alex Clark, Mike Henderson, Aydan Duligall,

Connor Pearce, Reece Shoobridge, Johnno Wicks, Dave Lever, Tom Claridge, Omid Amani, Dan

Saunders, Bobby Bolton. Replacements:- Marvin Brown, Joel Bailey, Dale Gardener.