Herts/Middlesex 1 20th September 2014

Cheshunt 31 Royston 13

Cheshunt got back to winning ways against a powerful Royston team and in the process notched a valuable bonus point. Electing to kick up hill in the first period C’s got off to a flying start. The long kick off was collected by Ben Hounslow and he immediately linked up with the backs, Dave Lever took the ball over halfway and, as the cover came across, he found captain Tom Claridge in support, he raced to the line and with Reece Shoobridge’s conversion, Cheshunt had a 7-0 lead inside the first minute. The Green and Whites kept up the early fast tempo and although Shoobridge missed his first penalty, he soon slotted another to extend the lead to 10-0 after 12 minutes. Royston were intent on using their big forwards to try and crash through, but were unable to adapt to Cheshunt’s aggressive defence and spent long periods pinned back in their own half. Eventually, the hooker broke clear and although he was hauled down on the 22, Cheshunt didn’t release the tackled player and Royston reduced the deficit with a simple penalty. Just before the break, Hounslow received a yellow card for slipping his bind at the scrum but C’s enjoyed a 10-3 advantage at the half time whistle. Cheshunt started the second half positively, but despite bossing the game with 14 men, they couldn’t add to their score and slowly the visitors grew in confidence and begun to attack up the slope. They were rewarded with a try in the corner following a catch and drive at the lineout to reduce to lead to a mere 2 points and when Charlie Bagley was sent to the sin bin for pulling down the maul, Cheshunt were up against it, in a game, they should they should have put away in the first half. A long kick up field from Royston was fielded by Will Payne, his high return was taken well 30 yards out, but Payne following up, made a thumping tackle, the spilt ball was fed to Claridge who was in for his brace, another conversion from Shoobridge gave C’s some breathing space. Royston, desperate to get back in the game quickly, strayed from their game plan, trying to run quick ball along the backs mis-fired when the ball again was coughed up in mid-field, Lewis Daymon was quickest to react, his soon sent the Cheshunt backs on their way, Lever beat two men on the outside and the passed back inside to Joel Bailey who touched down in the corner, another excellent conversion extended the advantage to 24-8 with just 12 minutes left. The visitors responded well and after pressure on the Cheshunt line for several minutes, the forwards barged over to try and set up a grand stand finish. The home side though had the final word, Lever finished off a move in the left hand corner to finally put the game out of reach for the visitors and sealed the try bonus point, again Shoobridge added the extras and completed the scoring at 31-13. Next week, the Green and Whites have a tricky away visit to Verulamians, who sit just above them in the league.

Martines, Phillips, Short, Brown, Mason, Hounslow, Clark, Bailey, Daymon, Claridge, Lever, Thorne, Cummines, Valentine, Shoobridge. Replacements – Bagley, Angell, Payne.