Cambridge welcomed Cheshunt for the next round of the community Junior Plate. Cheshunt are also unbeaten in their league, so we knew we would have a good game on our hands. For the first half hour, the contest was an arm-wrestle in its purest form. Both sides threw themselves into the collisions, but none more so than Cambridge’s Rhi, who produced a string of immense tackles that repeatedly halted Cheshunt’s early momentum. Her work set the tone for a gritty, defensive opening stanza.
That physical edge eventually paid dividends. After a period of sustained pressure deep inside the Cheshunt 22, Cambridge finally broke through. Working patiently through their phases, they created just enough space for Floor to crash over for the opening try. The conversion drifted wide, but Cambridge held a deserved 5–0 lead.
Cheshunt, however, found their response just before the break. Setting up a powerful maul, they rumbled forward inexorably and drove over the line to level the match at 5–5 as the sides headed to the sheds.
After the restart, Cheshunt began to edge ahead. Two well-worked passages of play saw them take the lead 5–10 and then extend it to 5–12, threatening to swing the game out of Cambridge’s reach.
But Cambridge’s reply was immediate and emphatic. A series of hard, direct pick-and-go carries—anchored by prop Phoebe’s relentless surges—punched holes in the Cheshunt fringe defence before she powered over to bring the deficit back to 10–12.
Moments later, Cambridge produced the try of the match. Tash sliced through from deep and tore away downfield, eating up 50 electrifying metres before linking with Molly, who finished the move superbly to put Cambridge ahead once more at 15–12.
Cheshunt, though, refused to go away. They mounted their own late push and edged back in front at 15–17, before adding an insurance score to make it 15–19 in the closing stages.
Despite a fierce, spirited performance—marked by heroic defence, powerful forward carries, and flashes of attacking brilliance—Cambridge were left to rue missed chances as Cheshunt held on for the win.