Herts/Middlesex 1 07/02/15

Cheshunt slipped up on the road, a poor disciplined performance against a very one dimensional opposition saw them come away with merely a losing bonus point. Although the game started so brightly, they were soon involved in a dog fight with both Millhillians and the referee and as the penalty count rose, so did Millhillians hopes of an upset, the home side defiantly hung on at the end to deny Cheshunt another away win.
Cheshunt’s first attack came after a couple of minutes, Richard Valentine collected a high kick just inside his own half and countered, Reece Shoobridge noticed a gap behind the Millhillians defence and chipped through, the ball bobbled a few yards short of the line and the home side were relieved when Cheshunt knocked on. However, the Cheshunt scrum immediately won the ball against the head and number eight Joel Bailey drove for the line, he was stopped just short, but fellow back row Aydan Duligall was on hand to pick the ball up and dive over for an early 0-5 lead.
Millhillians won the ball back soon after the re-start and their number eight charged into the Cheshunt 22, a penalty for offside reduced the arrears to 2 points.
Cheshunt camped in the Millhillians danger zone for a period, but a knock on over the try line gave the home side a chance to clear. C’s immediately returned and following a lineout 5 yards out, Johno Wicks darted down the blind side, he was just unable to get the ball down and was tackled into touch in goal.
The visitors had all the possession, but a string of penalties at the breakdown enabled Millhillians to relieve pressure, Cheshunt were becoming frustrated and every time they took the ball into contact, they were blown up and the home side begun to have some belief. A long rolling maul was rewarded with another penalty and when Cheshunt didn’t retreat 10 yards, Millhillians kicked the easy chance, to take the lead for the first time after 34 minutes 6-5.
Cheshunt responded immediately, Wicks with a well struck penalty from 35 yards restored the lead, but there was still time for the home side to raise another attack, again assisted by penalties they kept possession until they were able to find a gap wide out on the right for an 11-8 half time advantage.
5 minutes into the second period Cheshunt scored their second try, ball off the top from a line out on half way was fed along the line to Alan Thorne, he drove through the middle and quick ruck ball was fed back to Marvin Brown, he stretched his legs, knocking over would be tacklers and touched down wide out to nudge C’s back in front 11-13..
Yet another penalty gave the home side another pot at goal and with 30 minutes left on the clock, they had a single point advantage. That is the way it remained until the final whistle, C’s had a couple of difficult penalty attempts from wide out, with 13 and 3 minutes remaining, which sailed wide, but they will be disappointed not to have been out of sight, especially as they continued to dominate the set piece all the way through the game.
The semi-final of the Herts President Trophy is the next game for Cheshunt, they visit Watford on Saturday, then return to league action the week after when they entertain Barnet at Andrews Lane.

Short, Phillips, Bagley, Donnelly, Brown, Duligall, Willcocks, Bailey, Daymon, Wicks, Valentine, Claridge, Amani, Walker, Shoobridge. Replacements – Roberts, Clarke, Thorne.