Herts/Middlesex 1 27/09/14

Cheshunt were disappointed not to record a victory and move up the league table, a game in which they were clearly the better side was always difficult to win after they had given their opponents an early 17-0 lead, then without a recognised kicker, missed several easy kicks at goal. Verulamians first attack of the afternoon resulted in a penalty when C’s were guilty of not releasing, unnecessary back chat to the referee took them 10 yards closer to the posts and within range for a 3-0 lead after 5 minutes. Cheshunt had a couple of attacks without threatening very much, Scott Cummines looked dangerous when he crashed through mid-field and linked up with Conner Latour and the visitors were able to exert some pressure on the V’s line. A lack of concentration in defence suddenly saw the V’s inside centre break out from deep in his own half, although Joel Bailey raced back and hauled him down just outside the 22, a neat offload to the supporting winger got V’s over the line and under the posts for a 10-0 lead after 21 minutes, with only their second visit to the Cheshunt half. Cheshunt continued to have the territorial advantage, without threatening the V’s try line and on 26 minutes they were awarded a penalty under the posts. They opted for a scrum, an area in which they were enjoying the upper hand, and pushed the set piece towards the line, as the ball came out to the backs it was spilt and the home side desperately kicked down field. The chip ahead was poorly dealt with by the Cheshunt defence and with their third visit to the Cheshunt half had extended to 17-0 on the half an hour mark. Finally the green and whites were able to convert some pressure into points, ball off the top of the lineout was fed along the line to the ever dangerous Dave Lever, he soon beat his man, outpaced the covering defence and scored in the corner to put C’s on the board. The next visit to the Cheshunt half resulted in another V’s penalty, but this time the effort went wide and Cheshunt were able to get back down field and just before the break, reduce the deficit further, with a nice passage of rugby. Andy Mason stole some lineout ball, it was quickly fed out to Tom Claridge, his nicely weighted pass allowed Bailey to burst through the defence and he in turn found Cummines in support, who raced in from 20 yards to close the gap to 17-10, they missed the conversion and immediately should have been able to reduce the lead further. From the re-start a C’s attack was only halted by a spear tackle, the centre was yellow carded, but the easy penalty chance was not further punished as another kick sailed wide. A dreadful start to the second period handed the initiative back to the home side, although the ball was secured from the kick off, it was soon turned over on the 22, the scrum half noticed a gap and went unchallenged all the way to the line, neither side now able to convert kicks, the home side were back 12 points in front. Cheshunt responded immediately, under pressure from a Cheshunt scrum, V’s tried to spin the ball out wide, Lever was quickly up and intercepted on the 10 yard line, although closer to the posts another conversion was missed, 22-15. The game became a bit of a stalemate, neither side able to threaten the try line and when V’s did look dangerous a thumping tackle by Jake Phillips, turned the ball over. The home side enjoyed a little more of the possession after Ben Hounslow was yellow carded for offside at the breakdown, they turned down a couple of penalties in an attempt to secure the try bonus point and when they finally decided to have a pot at goal it was pushed wide. Cheshunt quickly countered and Dave Angell helped them get up field with a strong run, quick ruck ball was fed along the line and Declan Walker did well to pick up a poor pass and touch down. The fourth try had given C’s the try bonus point, but the extras were again missed which would have put the sides level. Angell was sent to the bin near the end of the match, for a deliberate knock on when trying to intercept, the resulting penalty, of course was missed and Cheshunt were then able to end the game on the attack, trying to pinch a game they should have won, but they couldn’t create any more chances and had to settle for a losing bonus point. A week off from league rugby sees Cheshunt travel to Hendon in the national cup next week, they return the following Saturday with a home fixture against Haringey. Bagley, Phillips, Short, Mason, Hounslow, Clark, Pearce, Bailey, Daymon, Claridge, Lever, Cummines, Latour, Valentine, Chantler, Replacements – Hussey, Angell, Walker.