Cheshunt finished off their home league fixture campaign with a convincing victory over basement side Haringey. Although both teams will want to put the season behind them, as they will both be relegated, they tried to play some attractive rugby and Cheshunt in particular proved that with ball in hand they can threaten from all the park.

It took a while for both sides to find their feet; the improved conditions from the previous few weeks gave them an opportunity to play a more expansive game and finally after 20 minutes Cheshunt were able to exert some pressure on the Haringey line, after a couple of phases Adam Chantler forced his way over the line but was held up, but C’s remained camped in the 22 until the visitors gave away a penalty at the scrum and Jack Gutteridge slotted the simple kick.

The Green and Whites attacked straight from the re-start, the forwards keeping it tight until Billy Roberts collected the ball just inside the Haringey half, he broke through a couple of tackles then outsprinted the covering defence to touch down, Gutteridge’s conversion extended the advantage to 10-0 after 29 minutes.

Playing with a new found confidence, it wasn’t long before C’s were on the board again. Keeping possession and going through the phases was creating some space in the Haringey defence, Chantler sucked in the tacklers, quick re-cycled ball allowed Jac Steyn to release Dave Lever down the wing, from 30 yards he easily won the race to the line and another conversion from Gutteridge put Cheshunt 17-0 up just before the break.

Haringey had their best moment of the half just before the whistle, but a thumping tackle from Joel Bailey caused a knock on and C’s turned round with a comfortable lead.

The home side started the second half full of confidence, Gutteridge came close with another penalty attempt and from the 22 drop out, Steyn stormed back into contact, a nice offload to Chantler put C’s back in the 22, but they transgressed at the breakdown and let Haringey off the hook. Cheshunt remained in the Haringey half and were playing some of their best rugby of the season and when Gutteridge pinched a ball in mid field it set up the next wave of attack. Bailey took the ball deep in the Haringey 22, but with the ball stuck at the bottom of a ruck Cheshunt were awarded a scrum a few yards out, several phases close to the line were rewarded when Bailey was able to get over from short range, another conversion put Cheshunt clear at 24-0 and they were determined to notch a fourth try for the bonus point.

The visitors however, immediately fought back, a penalty gave them the chance to kick to the corner and a catch and drive from the lineout got them over in the corner, with 20 minutes left on the clock they were on the board at 25-5.

But Cheshunt were now playing without any inhibition, some fantastic offloads and attractive passages of play with forwards and backs working well together, kept the ball moving forward and Tom Claridge was able to give Gutteridge just enough room to get round his man and over in the corner to secure the bonus point.

The visitors kept going and both sides in the last ten minutes tried to add to the scoreboard, Haringey attacked but Chantler intercepted on the 22 and stormed up field, his inside pass was dropped, but it looked like Cheshunt might add to their total, but a penalty put Haringey back in the Cheshunt 22 and again their forwards were able to surge over from close range for a late consolation and complete the scoring at 29-10.

Just a couple more fixtures left of this seasons campaign, a visit to Welwyn this Saturday is followed by a trip to Finchley, Cheshunt will hope to build on this promising performance and some players can put down markers for next season.

Short, Phillips, Chalk, Batten, Reynolds, Duligall, Roberts, Bailey, Ewing, Claridge, Lever, Corcoran, Chantler, Gutteridge, Steyn. Replacements:- Hounslow, Boulton.F, Barton