Cheshunt 1xt XV 8 - 5 Imperial Medicals

Cheshunt finally recorded their third victory of the season, in a hard fought contest on a wet pitch, not conducive to free flowing rugby. Neither side created very much in the first 20 minutes, both teams finding it difficult to get go forward ball with the slippery conditions. A brief Medics attack was soon halted and Cheshunt finally got into the visitors 22 after 22 minutes, a promising attack came to an end with a dropped ball and Medics cleared to half way. The first half was littered with mistakes from both teams and too many penalties at the break down, meant the game was stop start, neither side able to string together a series of phases, on which to launch a sustained attack.

Imperial Medics, after a succession of penalties were able to camp in the Cheshunt 22, they struggled to get over the gain line with some excellent aggressive tackling, centres Matt Corcoran and Ross Boulton knocking their men over in mid field, wingers Lewis Damon and Jack Gutteridge patrolling the touchline and not letting the fast Medicals backs round the outside. In desperation the visitors tried a long miss pass, alert full back Reece Shoobridge intercepted just 15 yards from his own try line and raced downfield, he was caught 70 yards up field and the re-cycled ball was spilt, but Cheshunt remained in the Medics 22 for the remainder of the half. However, the teams turned around at the break scoreless.

Half backs Brad Ewing and Ross Chamberlain kept the Cheshunt momentum up, quick passes and nicely judged kicks kept C’s on the front foot and they started the second period as they finished the first camped the medics half. A penalty gave Shoobridge the chance to kick down the line for an attacking lineout, a further penalty gave him the chance to slot the first points for 3-0 lead with a well struck kick. From the re-start, Joel Bailey collected and set up a maul, driving through the Medics forwards and putting them on the back foot, Chamberlain chipped through the visitors backs and Corcoran fly hacked the ball further down field, Shoobridge collected the loose ball and raced to the corner to increase the lead to 8-0 with 30 minutes still left on the clock.

The Green and Whites were soon back in the Medics 22 when Alex Clark noticed a gap behind the defence and kicked down field, tackled by three Cheshunt chasers the Medics fullback was guilty of not releasing and Shoobridge had another pop at goal, but this effort was pulled to the left. The visitors then started to play without caution and became increasingly dangerous, they finally got into the Cheshunt 22 for the first time in the second period with just 20 minutes to go, but spent most of the rest of the game camped there, desperately trying to break down a well organised Cheshunt defence.

Another attack kept them close to the line, Chamberlain was sin binned for slowing the ball down and after several more attempts, they managed to squeeze in the corner, 8-5 with just 4, nerve wracking minutes left. The visitors had a couple more opportunities with possession before the final whistle, but Cheshunt never looked like letting them anywhere near the red zone and when the Medics were pulled up for a forward pass in their own half, the Cheshunt faithful were glad to hear the final whistle and celebrate a long awaited and thoroughly deserved victory.

Martines, Phillips, Short, Donnelly, Reynolds, Clark, Hounslow, Bailey, Ewing, Chamberlain, Damon, Corcoran, Boulton. R, Gutteridge, Shoobridge, Replacements – Chalk, Boulton. F, Doyle.