On a warm, bright, cloudless and sunny afternoon our Blueboy II's took their season end journey in the hired mini-bus to a packed Barking Rugby Club in the Essex Merit League 1 Cup Final to take on Westcliff 2s who have been strong throughout this campaign.

Match Report by Jim Howe

The day also coincided with the CRFC Minis end of season gathering fun day and the annual Charity Day and Vets rugby spectacular where the club raised over £5k for local causes.

Following last week's outstanding semi-final performance against Woodford the Blueboy IIs thoroughly deserved to be in this cup final against a Westcliff team who have shown their quality all season.

With the many bumps and bruises from the last few weeks Capt James Mc selected from the players who were available and who have driven this second team to the top of the Essex merit table division, the lads knew it would be a challenge.

The game was played on the Barking first team pitch and the final game of the afternoon with a 5pm KO and considering Barking had been hosting all the Essex Cup and Shield finals all day the pitch in very good condition.

The game was fast paced from the start and both teams produced some entertaining rugby in front of the large crowd made up of the many Essex clubs who had played in the day giving support to both teams.

It was a ding dong affair as both teams took their opportunities and were very evenly matched but on the day Chelmsford just couldn't take the win with Westcliff out scoring Chelmsford 6 tries to 4.

This wasn't a game too far for Chelmsford its just the beginning of a long journey.

The game could have gone either way but this occasion belonged to Westcliff who just edged to game helped on by their traveling and very vocal supporters.

After the game and after the Westcliff team bus had left Barking the Chelmsford lads enjoyed their aftermatch meal together upstairs in the hosts clubhouse.

This group have shown much loyalty to one another and formed strong bounds, friendships and there is genuine camaraderie between everyone as they just enjoy being mates together.

Cup Final Squad
Jamie Calver, Neil Venables, Alex Gardner (C), Nathan Howe, Frankie Hart, Pete Baya, Liam Fage, Nick Crouch, Dan Western, Max Williams, Justin Young, Jamie Hunter, Ben Kerwin, Charlie Harvey, Connor Corbitt, Ugo Eze, Ollie Hitchcock, Harrison Thomas, Danny O'Flynn, Dave Cramphorn, Jobi Fisher, Ben Sandat

Physio - Desiree Olliver-Moss
Team Manager - Andrew Barker
Touchline - Capt James Mclaughlan

Thank you to Barking Rugby Club for being great hosts on a busy day.

Over the season we have seen a good uptake from the Colts and youth players coming through - 13 of the match day squad on the last two occasions.

We have also seen an influx of the university lads all wearing CRFC Blues a positive step for Chelmsford and the strong links we are building.

We have seen father and son and sibling combos playing as well as all the returning senior players to the club and squad all pushing for places.

From the touchline this season we have witnessed some great wins, some close games and some challenging ones and close the 2025-26 season as very creditable runners up to Westcliff which is no mean feet considering a number of clubs in Essex particularly in the higher leagues provide renumeration to their players so you expect them to be pushing all the way.

Thanks to Desiree who has been on hand as first responder triage to this squad during the games home and away tape, surgical gloves and scissors in hand.

Thanks to Andy Barker aka 'Barks' for supporting the squad and organising the days running order, logistics and sideline support having already helped out at the club earlier supporting the CRFC Charity Day.

Thank you to all the volunteers and club staff and coaches who have supported this squad this season.

Thank you to all the sideline support over the season, we grow in numbers week on week both home and away, this is very welcomed by the lads and we ask for your ongoing support and voices of encouragment next season where the lads hope to go one better.

Lastly, to all the players who have represented the Blueboy II's this season and we have over 50 plus players who have played from the ages of 18 to 56 years old - very well done, you are a credit to our great club.

Keep working hard, stick with it and come back to pre-season refreshed and with a true sense of purpose ready to go again and push the standards expected.

It is hoped the next crop of Colts will be coming through on the conveyor belt and we see the next influx of CRFC players joining the fold and all squads next season.

Blueboy II's try scorers - Fage 1, Hart 1, Baya 2
Cons - Dave Cramphorn 2

2025/26 end of season stats after the regular season finishing in third behind Woodford in second and Westcliff top and before the play-offs.

Played 22
Won 15
Lost 7

CRFC Senior Players Awards evening Friday 15th May - book your place before all tickets have gone - link here...

https://bookwhen.com/crfcevents/e/ev-s6ent-20260515183000