Cheshunt 1st XV vs Hitchin

Despite dominating possession and territory, particularly in the second half, Cheshunt missed the opportunity to register a win against Hitchin, gifting them a couple of tries on their way to an unexpected victory.

The home side started the game well, against the stiff breeze they kept possession and worked their way into the Hitchin 22, a couple of penalties kept them close with kicks to the corner, buy finally a forward pass gave Hitchin some time with the ball. The visitors back line looked dangerous but were well shepherded by Cheshunt and were kept a distance away from the red zone, Hitchin were able to use the breeze to get down field, but Cheshunt drives, particularly from the forwards helped them claw back the yards.

Fly half Reece Shoobridge then broke from deep in his own half to the Hitchin 10 yard line and again Cheshunt worked up field, they put more pressure on the Hitchin try line from a 5 yard scrum, but the visitors won the ball back and cleared. Geoff Hayden and Dean Gardener covered well and helped C’s recover possession and following a series of slowing the ball down at the breakdown the Hitchin prop received a yellow card. Cheshunt kicked to the corner and following the lineout, Dave Angell picked from the base of the ruck and drove over from 10 yards out after 20 minutes.

The lead only lasted 5 minutes, Hitchin again using the wind to get deep into the Cheshunt half, a free kick awarded at a line out was quickly taken and the visitors were under the posts, the easy conversion gave them a 5-7 lead. Hitchin were now having the better of the territorial game, Cheshunt finding it difficult to get down field, and instead of playing a tight game up to the break, they tried to fling the ball out wide, the left winger was quick to spot a poor pass in midfield, took the interception and ran in from 35 yards out to give Hitchin a 5-12 lead at the break.

Another good start to the half and Cheshunt remained camped in the Hitchin 22 for the first 15 minutes, Angell, Ben Hounslow and Luke Johnson all took the ball close to the line, until, after another series of 5 yards scrums, the ball was fed left, then back across the field and Hounslow made room for Gardener to get in the corner. On the next attack the Green and Whites took the lead, Hitchin diving over the ball at the ruck and Shoobridge slotted the penalty.

Once again, Hitchin fought straight back and Cheshunt missed several opportunities to clear their lines, not using the wind to their advantage and the visitors were able to remain in the Cheshunt half until they found some room in the right hand corner to get over the whitewash.

Still plenty of time for Cheshunt to re-establish the lead, Johnson again got close after Hayden had set him free, but Cheshunt were again camped on the Hitchin line. A couple of penalties kept them there, but when a quickly taken tap was stopped by the Hitchin centre with a high tackle after not retreating ten yards, Tom Reynolds was shown a yellow card for taking the law into his own hands. Hitchin cleared and Cheshunt began to chase the game, a long pass in the stiff breeze didn’t find its target, and this time the Hitchin right winger accepted the gift of a run in, albeit from 75 yards, to go in under the posts. In the process, claiming the try bonus point and denying the home side any consolation in the way of a losing bonus point, in a game they clearly could have won.

Phillips, Girdlestone, Martines, Donnelly, Reynolds, Angell, Duligall, Clark, Ewing, Shoobridge, Cummines, Gardener, Steyn, Gutteridge, Hayden. Replacements:- Short, Hounslow, Johnson.