Herts/Middlesex 1 27/01/2016

Cheshunt left it to the last minute to snatch victory against a well organised and physical Royston team.
Although the Cheshunt team tried to play most of the rugby, it was difficult to be too expansive in the strong wind, Royston nearly held on with a very simple, up the jumper, game plan and when they lost possession with the clock already run down, the visitors were delighted to get the ball to left winger Dale Gardener who sped to the corner for a dramatic last gasp try. Against the elements in the first period, Cheshunt initially struggled to get out of their half and the home side, without threatening the line, were happy to try and keep C’s pinned back with kicks down field.

Royston created their first opportunity with a catch and drive from a lineout, but the C’s defence held firm and when the ball was knocked on over the line, C’s sprang into action with a quick 22 drop out. The bigger Royston pack struggled to get back behind the gain line and Cheshunt through a stream of penalties worked their way up field, as scrum half Reece Shoobridge kept taking quick taps and pushed them further and further down the pitch. When they got into the 22, another penalty under the posts was converted by Shoobridge and C’s had the first points on the board after 15 minutes.

The Green and Whites begun to get more of the ball and looked dangerous in attack, but as soon as Royston won the ball back, they tried to use the wind to pin Cheshunt back downfield. Most of the kicks were fielded by Dan Saunders and he found keen runners in support to raise further assaults into the Royston 22.

Fielding one kick just inside his own half, he soon found Connor Pearce who brushed off would be tacklers and worked up to the 22, quick ball along the line was given to Gardener, but he was tackled into touch just 10 metres out.
More long kicks from Royston put them back into a promising position and another catch and drive worked its way towards the Cheshunt line, again they were held up just short and the bigger pack tried to bully their way over the line, ignoring screams from the backs for the ball to go wide, as they came again, Gregg Morris wrestled the ball clear and C’s escaped.
Another Royston attack was foiled when they dropped the ball close to the line, but they finished the half deep in Cheshunt territory and were rewarded with the last play of the first period, a well-rehearsed, cheeky lineout move got them over in the corner and an excellent conversion gave the home side a 7-3 advantage at the break.

Cheshunt struggled to get their hands on the ball for long periods in the second half, the home side played close to the touchline, pick and drives inviting the inevitable penalties, which were pushed up the line and the whole process started again.
Neither side looked like adding to their total until Royston attacked with another catch and drive in the left corner, again the Cheshunt pack held firm and they were forced to spin the ball out, Dave Lever was quickly up in open play and intercepted the ball just 10 metres form his own line, he sped downfield but was tackled just short of the line and the supporting Cheshunt players knocked the ball on.

The last twenty minutes was all played in the Royston half, most of it in the 22, and although C’s were given several penalties, they were unable to break through. Frustratingly after another penalty for slowing the ball down, another quick tap and go saw Bobby Bolton dive over in the corner, the referee called play back to the mark as he was in the process of issuing a yellow card to the Royston transgressor.

Down the 14 men for the last few minutes Royston continued with their pick and go game plan until the very last moment, one of the Royston forwards got isolated and the ball was turned over, C’s recognised the opportunity and Gardener, to the delight of the visiting supporters, raced 25 metres and dived over in the corner to mark the end of the match.
A week off will Cheshunt a chance to recover from this bruising ill-tempered match before they welcome Streetonians to Rosedale on the 13th February.

Angell, Morris, Hussey.R, Hounslow, Clark, Henderson, Duiligall, Pearce, Shoobridge, Wicks, Lever, Amani, Bolton, Gardener, Saunders. Replacements – Hussey. A, Willcocks, Drew.