Sat 16 Oct 2021
Saturday 16th October 2021
London League 3 North West
Hendon RFC 29 - 14 Cheshunt RFC
Hendon resolve early mistakes to end playing best rugby so far this season.
Determined to make amends for the loss last week from kick off Hendon were on the offensive playing up the slope but excellent Cheshunt defence kept the home side from scoring. Midway through the first period it was in broken play that the ball was gathered by Cheshunt in their own 22 to move down the slope finally scoring from a push over maul 0-7.
Another attack by Hendon orchestrated by Jack Ryan on the wing put Hendon again into the Cheshunt 22, who conceded two penalties, both kickable for three points. However the decision to kick for touch with the intent to score a try was again stopped by Cheshunt with the ball being knocked on wide out and kicked down the pitch allowing the visitors to follow up and gain a further seven points against the run of play to make the half time score 0 - 14.
However, in the second half after a rethink on tactics by Hendon coach Phil Smith and within two minutes of the restart, Hendon were camped on the Cheshunt try line with a maul; the emerging ball was collected by scrum half Ross Williams to No10 Rob Casey on the burst to score a Cian Hynes converted try to bring Hendon back to 7-14.
Hendon by now were the better team with the scrum now pushing their heavier opposition backwards with prop forward Nick Andrews playing in the second row prominent in both the tight and loose to be named Man of the Match.
Several attempts were made to cross the Cheshunt line with Hendon conceding a penalty which did not find touch and was collected by Will Theaker to run from halfway mark to the Cheshunt 5 metre only to be stopped just short. However, from the maul Hendon’s returning 2nd row Jake Dunne picked up to score out wide to close Hendon in at 12-14.
From the restart back row Rossa Dooley broke through the now tiring Cheshunt forwards to set up the Hendon backline with Robby Burrell being stopped short. From the resultant scrum to Cheshunt, the Hendon front five pushed again for No8 Chris Kiyingi to pick up and score in the corner for Hendon to go into a well deserved lead at 17-14.
With ten minutes to go the action was all Cheshunt defending against some excellent backline moves from the home outfit with Theaker finishing in the corner to push the score to 22-14.
In the closing minutes a surprise surge up the Hendon slope by Cheshunt was successfully defended allowing Burrell to kick the ball back to the Cheshunt 22 metre line. The return kick was charged down by centre Tom Mathias and Kiyingi in support gathered the ball and scored his second try of the match which was converted by Burrell to finish the game with a win for Hendon 29 points to 14.
Hendon forwards' coach Jim Dickin after the game said "we had to make changes in the pack this week because of injuries in the front five but against opposition which we knew would be heavier and well drilled our forwards took control, particularly in the second half, which allowed the backs to play and gave the foundation for the victory"
Hendon are now placed fourth in the League and this Saturday Hendon travel north to Welwyn, who are one place below them. Kick off 1500.
