Herts/Middlesex 1 22/11/2014

photo album from mercury http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/pictures/Gallery-Cheshunt-RFC-v-London-Welsh-Amateurs/pictures-24610332-detail/pictures.html#1link

Cheshunt turned in their best performance of the season, to defeat previously unbeaten London Welsh and snatched a bonus point with the last play of the game against the leagues tightest defence.

Following extensive drainage works on the first team pitch, it was unveiled for the first time this season and it provided the perfect surface for a fast open game, however neither side were in the mood to allow their opposition any space and for the majority of the match, the defensive strengths of both teams were winning the day.

Cheshunt, already a little depleted with injuries, lost two key players early on, Ben Hounslow suffered a broken and dislocated ankle and Jake Phillips had to retire with a reoccurrence of a calf problem, Ryan Hussey and Charlie Bagley, their replacements, both stepped up to the mark and kept the Cheshunt forwards on top, particularly at the scrum. Early Welsh pressure was relieved when the visitors gave away penalties at the breakdown, but they camped in the Cheshunt half and although they missed their first pot at goal when the Green and Whites infringed, they were on the board after 12 minutes with a simple kick in front.

Cheshunt attacked from deep, after Tom McGowan was able to shrug off would be tacklers just outside his 22, Scott Cummines and Richard Valentine combined and C’s surged into the Welsh 22. The attack was halted temporarily with a scrum, but quick clean ball was fed back inside from Tom Claridge to Dave Lever, he burst through the gap and around the full back to take the lead after 25 minutes, 5-3.

London Welsh re-took the lead, with another penalty after 32 minutes, but Cheshunt looked the more threatening and again managed to set Lever free, unfortunately he lost his footing as he attempted to go round the last man and the visitors cleared and then finished the half with another long shot at goal, but failed to add to their advantage.

The Cheshunt defence was severely tested at the start of the second period, but they didn’t take a backward step, often driving their opponents back in the tackle, Omid Amani and Claridge in the centre, Aydan Duligall and Josh Willcocks in the back row, cutting down anything that moved. Finally the visitors spilt the ball, Cummines was quickest to react and Cheshunt were able to counter, but back came the Welsh and play went from 22 to 22, with neither side able to create enough space to get over the line. Lever had another break down the left wing, a fine tackle from the fullback stopped him a few yards short, then the visitors worked themselves into a promising position with an attacking lineout 5 yards out, Sean Donnelly stole the throw and Cheshunt were able to clear.

London Welsh resorted to a kicking game, trying to control some territory and hope for the chance to increase their lead with another penalty, but Jonno Wicks, on at fly half, responded with some fine touch line kicking, keeping the visitors pinned back down field and the game was beginning to open up. Finally, a tremendous team try, finished off by Amani gave the lead back to Cheshunt, they retained possession through many phases, re-cycling the ball until they were able to surge over the line, with Amani driving through the Welsh defence and with just 7 minutes left C’s had a 4 point advantage. Desperate to maintain their unbeaten record, London Welsh threw everything at Cheshunt from the re-start, but once again the defence didn’t take a backward step and when the ball was again spilt just inside the 22, it was quickly fed out to Lever, he had enough space to out gas the defence and run in under the posts, Wicks conversion put the game safe at 17-6. Full of confidence, Cheshunt saved the best until last, London Welsh were again turned over, and the home side eagerly poured into the Welsh half, from another scrum just inside 22, Brad Ewing fed Wicks, he found Valentine running the perfect line and he cut through the Welsh line, as the fullback covered, his sweetly timed pass was collected by Claridge to round off a great afternoon, the extras from Wicks signalled the final whistle.

An excellent team effort, probably the best Cheshunt performance for several seasons sees them climb another place in the league and they are up to fifth, they will enjoy a week off from league rugby next week, but return the following week with another tough challenge, away at the currently unbeaten league leaders Kilburn.

Short, Phillips, Martines, Donnelly, Brown, Willcocks, Duligall, Hounslow, Ewing, McGowan, Lever, Claridge, Amani, Cummines, Valentine. Replacements – Bagley, Hussey, Wicks.