Herts/Middlesex 1, 11th April 2015

Cheshunt completed their league campaign with a battling performance against a determined Actonians team, who should gain promotion, as they require just one point from their remaining fixture. They might well snatch the league title too, victory against Old Millhillians next week will be enough for them to overtake London Nigerians.
Knowing a bonus point victory would take them to the brink of promotion, Actonians attacked from the kick off and Cheshunt did well to weather the early storm. An early penalty allowed the visitors to kick to the 22 and a catch and drive from the lineout, worked its way infield and over the line under the posts, however the Cheshunt forwards had got under the ball, it was held up and the home side managed to clear form the resulting scrum.
Cheshunt were unable to get into the Actonians half until a knock on in mid field was picked up by Johno Wicks, quick ball allowed Tom Claridge to kick deep into the Actonians 22 and when the visitors were pulled up for not straight at the lineout, Cheshunt had an attacking scrum close to the line. Number 8 Joel Bailey picked and sucked in the defence before unloading to Omid Amani who dived over in the corner, an excellent touchline conversion against the breeze from Reece Shoobridge gave C’s a 7-0 lead after 16 minutes.
The Cheshunt set piece was functioning well, providing a solid base to give the Green and Whites some attacking options, but the Actonians back line always looked dangerous, the full back in particular running some great lines and seemed to always beat the first defender. He made a searing break from his own 10 metre line and only a desperate tackle from Wicks put him into touch a few metres short, however it wasn’t long before he had the ball in his hands again, after the left winger had collected a kick and after breaking along the touch line, he fed the full back just outside the 22 who cut through the defensive line and over the try line on the half hour mark, an easy conversion levelled the scores.
For the remainder of the first half play remained around the halfway mark, Shoobridge was off target with a difficult penalty attempt and the sides went into the break all square.
Actonians took the lead after 7 minutes of the re-start, with a simple penalty. Cheshunt started to infringe at the break down and another penalty allowed the visitors to kick into the 22, ball off the top at the lineout was fed along the line, a slick backs move made enough room for the winger to get over in the corner, with the conversion they had a ten point advantage.
Bailey and Alex Clark continued to take the game to the visitors, second row Rob Fairburn added some impetus with a fine debut, when he came on off the bench and Aydan Duligall always worked hard around the breakdown, but OAs always seemed to have numbers and they were able to turn ball over.
Despite Cheshunt competing in the tight, OAs were desperate to secure their promotion spot and kept the home side pinned back, and two errors put the game out of sight for the home team. When C’s tried to get out of the danger zone with a chip and chase, the visitors quickly collected the loose ball and they were soon over the line again. Cheshunt desperately tried to play some attacking rugby, but when they spilt the ball 30 yards out, the influential full back was on hand again to help create the bonus point try, that virtually secures a top two finish and OAs had stretched to 7-29.
C’s kept pressing and finally got a deserved try, after a continued period of pressure, with the visitors forced to concede penalties deep in their own half, the referee lost his patience with the visitors when they again were up offside and deliberately knocked with Cheshunt close to the line, a penalty try under the posts with the conversion narrowed the gap, but it was too little too late.

To complete the season, Cheshunt have the President’s Trophy final to look forward to on the 26th April when they take on Royston at the Allianz Park, 12 O’clock kick off.

Short, Phillips, Martines, Angell, Willcocks, Clark, Duligall, Bailey, Daymon, Shoobridge, Saunders, Claridge, Valentine, Amani, Wicks. Replacements – Bagley, Fairburn, Cummines.