Herts/Middlesex 1 23rd January 2016

Cheshunt maintained their recent unbeaten run, but couldn’t convert it into a win, despite spending

the last minutes of the game just metres from the Welsh line; a final penalty with the last kick of the

game was narrowly pushed to the right of the posts.

Although Cheshunt finished the stronger team at the end of the match, London Welsh were superior

in the first half and only some last ditch defending kept them out, they could well have built up a

comfortable half time lead, only defiant determination kept the home side in the game.

An early penalty for not rolling away gave Welsh a chance to kick for the corner and attempt their

well-rehearsed catch and drive from a lineout, Cheshunt infringed at the first lineout and Welsh had

a second attempt, but this time they were penalised and C’s cleared.

Welsh were dominating possession, but as soon as C’s had an opportunity they were quick to spread

the ball wide , from a penalty, a quick tap and go set the forwards piling into the Welsh defence,

once the visitors were exposed by committing players to the ruck, Johnno Wicks noticed some space

behind the Welsh defence, his nicely weighted chip was hacked on by right winger Dale Gardener, as

the ball approached the try line the Cheshunt attackers couldn’t control the bounce and Welsh were

relieved to escape with a 22 drop out.

Although Welsh had most of the possession, Cheshunt looked more dangerous with ball in hand and

when Welsh spilt a pass, C’s were quick to counter up to the 22, the visitors then transgressed at the

breakdown, but the pot at goal sailed just wide, Welsh soon had an opportunity to put the first

points on the board, but they too saw the effort go wide, place kicking proved difficult in the wet

conditions.

Defending a rolling maul, Marvin Brown was the first player to visit the sin bin when he collapsed the

maul and the Welsh really turned up the pressure, another catch and drive from 7 yards out got over

the line but the Cheshunt defenders held the ball up. Although C’s won a free kick at the scrum, they

couldn’t get out of the half and when the visitors had another penalty from 35 metres they took the

lead after 26 minutes.

C’s were temporarily down to 13 men, when Dave Lever was also yellow carded, but they continued

to look threatening with ball in hand and when Welsh were penalised for holding on, Shoobridge

levelled the scores after 36 minutes from 30 metres.

London Welsh finished the half strongly, mounting attack after attack and the influential fly half got

over the line, but he too was held up, from the scrum he got over the gain line again, but a

tremendous try saving tackle from Mike Henderson kept him out, C’s won the resulting scrum and

then cleared to touch to signal the half time whistle.

Straight from the re-start, C’s poured into the Welsh half, Brown took play into the 22 and when

Welsh gave away another penalty at the breakdown, Shoobridge put C’s in the lead, it only lasted a

few minutes, the visitors were soon level with a shot a goal after 9 minutes of the half, the kick going

over off the upright.

London Welsh lost their first player to the bin after 53 minutes, the left winger holding back

Shoobridge after he had hacked down field, but the penalty attempt from 35 yards was pushed

wide.

Cheshunt were now enjoying more possession, but both sides defence remained intact, both fully

committed to secure second spot in the league and try scoring opportunities were limited. Welsh

had the occasional foray into the Cheshunt half, but as soon as the home side won the ball back they

were quick to attack, centre Bobby Bolton instrumental in orchestrating some exciting moves.

As the game wore on, Cheshunt spent more time in the Welsh 22, another penalty hit the post, and

pressure on the line saw the wing forward sent to the bin, to give C’s hope in the last few minutes.

A series of penalties, lineouts and scrums couldn’t get over the line, but they were getting closer and

closer and deep into added on time, another penalty gave C’s a last chance to win the game,

Shoobridge’s effort again shaved the upright and they had to be content with a draw.

Another tricky fixture awaits Cheshunt next week, when they visit Hertfordshire rivals Royston.