Saturday 15th January 2022
London League Three North West
Cheshunt RFC 24-18 Hendon RFC
A close match with Hendon winning the second half and being rewarded with a bonus point.
Two long penalty kicks in the first 20 minutes by the home outfit put Hendon defending their red zone against the well drilled Cheshunt pack who were twice able to set up a rolling maul for their forwards to score two tries for a lead of 12-0 points.
Hendon captain Cian Hynes gave Hendon the same chance on 25 minutes with a long penalty to the Cheshunt 22. With the line out duly secured by Rossa Dooley there were repeated carries by Luke Pollard and TJ O’Sullivan but both were tackled short of scoring as the Cheshunt defence cleared.
Minutes later Hynes put in another long kick this time with Nick Andrews being held up. Finally on the 3rd attacking move after Chris Kiyingi was tackled high, Hynes took the long penalty kick at goal to put Hendon on the score board 12-3.
Into the closing minute of the first period and as Hendon set up a further attack a handling error in mid field was kicked ahead by the Cheshunt right wing to collect and score against the run of play in the corner and the home outfit were ahead 17-3.
The second half was all Hendon for 20 minutes as Cheshunt defended. A notable carry from Hendon scrum half Dobby Williamson from the Cheshunt 10 line to their 22 enabled the Hendon forwards to set up a driving maul finished off by Jake Dunne touching down under the posts with Hynes converting 17-10.
Hendon attacked again and looked in control as Kiyingi went over but was adjudged to have been held up; the referee awarded Hendon a 5 metre scrum with wing forward Conor Bowler finishing off with another try out wide and Hendon were in striking distance at 17-15. Disaster struck from the restart as Hendon miss-fielded and from a 22metre scrum the Cheshunt winger cleared a tackle to score again 24-15.
Into the last 5 minutes and Hynes from a mid-field penalty kicked long for Hendon to set up a scoring opportunity. Cheshunt were penalised with the kick going just wide followed by another attack by Hendon as Cheshunt conceded yet another penalty and with a free ball, a drop goal was just wide. The penalty was then taken by Hynes for a successful 3rd attempt at goal and with the score at 24-18 Hendon claimed the losing bonus point with the last kick of the match.
This Saturday 22nd January Hendon 1 st XV are at Home to Welwyn who sit 3rd in the League, whilst the 2nd Team play Hertford 4ths in the Merit Table.
