CHELMSFORD LIONS
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With clubs unable to honour their commitments, Chelmsford Under 7's were invited to put forward another team in addition to the team already booked in (Barbarians). The team was pulled together from those players that could confirm availability at very short notice.
The Lions made a good and impressive start and set the confidence levels high for the day, looking sharp from the outset and showing their intent with an 8-0 win over Westcliff. The next match against Braintree was forecast to be critical in our progress, with Braintree RFC winning the Chelmsford Festival Under 7's last season. This showed in the score, with Braintree ahead with 5-4 at half time only for Chelmsford to win 10 – 8 final score.
Afurther win over Chingford (6-3) sealed a place in the final, against Heathfield.
Heathfield looked very good in their first match against the Chelmsford Barbarians with a particularly naturally gifted evasive runner, so a close tight encounter was predicted. With a referee absent in keeping the scores and a touch judge more keen on watching the game rather than watching for touch, the Lions were up against unforeseen factors with these officials from their own back up team! However the Lions were too strong for any Abbott and Costello comedians, and although the half time score of 2-2 showed the tightness of the game, the Heathfield attack was strangled more than once with strong tagging and the Lions winning overall 5-4.
The results show the strength in depth within the squad but what was also remarkable was that space was still found to score tries despite pitches challenged by their dimensions. The strength in depth is owed to the commitment the parents/carers are able to give as well as their support from the sideline. At the Thurrock Festival we have been rewarded by the team achieving the best possible outcome.

Overall Stats

Tries Tags Assist
Ben Sandat 1
Connor Corbett 5 10 1
Connor Renfrew 3 2
Greg Russell 8 9 4
Nicholas Matthews 1 1
Oliver Clutterbuck 1 1
Oliver Gillingham 1
Samuel Scott 3 4 2
Solomon Hodson 3 13
Sam Sandle 10 7 2
Totals 30 50 12

Chelmsford Lions Player of the Tournament Sam Sandle. A very remarkable debut by any standards.

Westcliff;
Man of the Match Solomon Hudson (Exceptional tagging)
Special Merit Samuel Scott (Involvement in game demonstrating roundness of skills)

Braintree;
Man of the Match Greg Russell (Significant contribution to game with high try and tag counts)
Special Merit Oliver Clutterbuck (Significant support and defence)

Chingford;
Man of the Match Connor Corbett (Scoring tries and tagging)
Special Merit Connor Renfrew (Scoring first try of a match and assisting with another)

Heathfield;
Man of the Match Sam Sandle (Scoring 3 tries in the final)
Special Merit Solomon Hudson (Significant assistance in tagging/strangling Heathfield RFC attacks in final tournament match.)

General; Ben Sandat, Nicholas Matthews and Oliver Gillingham for defensive charging from re-starts.

Other Awards.
Highest Tag Count (again): Solomon Hodson
Best display of Tagging: Greg Russell (ripping belt off opponent together with tags)

CHELMSFORD BARBARIANS
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The Chelmsford Barbarians made their festival debut at a sunny Thurrock Rugby Club. With great support from the touchline and also the Chelmsford Lions team, the first game was against a very good Heathfield team. Heathfield established an early 2-0 lead but Chelmsford dug in to keep themselves in touch, and scored a try through George Day. However Heathfield managed to extended the lead to 4-1 at half time. A dynamic second half performance by Freddie Kemble-Jones saw him get 2 tries and a number of tags, and with Elliot Vickers also scoring the Barbarians fought till the end to end up with a 4-7 final score.
The second game saw an exciting, high scoring draw against Upminster. First half tries from Ollie Etherington and Daniel Bridge and great defence from William Bidwell and Lucas Wren saw a 2-2 interval scoreline. A second half hat trick by Freddie Kemble-Jones ensured a 5-5 draw that probably deserved a better reward but it was a very exciting match and another great effort from the boys. The final group stage match was against the hosts Thurrock in a game that see sawed from start to finish and really could have gone either way. Great tagging, and 2 tries by Elliot Vickers kept it to 2-2 until right near the end when Thurrock grabbed victory 3-2.
The Barbarians finished the festival off with the Vase final against Chingford. An excellent start by the Chelmsford saw a 2-0 scoreline with tries through Elliot Morley and William Bidwell, but the rest of the half was a tight affair with both teams defending well. In the second half further tries from Elliot Morley and Elliot Vickers saw a 4-0 win, and a trophy, which was reward for all the effort the boys put in throughout the day.
WELL DONE TO ALL THE VASE WINNERS; William Bidwell, Daniel Bridge, George Day, Ollie Etherington, Jamie Hamilton, Jonny Jones, Freddie Kemble-Jones, Elliot Morley, Elliot Vickers, Mathew Wiseman, Lucas Wren.

Tries Tags Assists
Freddie Kemble-Jones 5 14 2
Elliot Vickers 4 12 2
Elliot Morley 2 6 1
Ollie Etherington 1 11 1
William Bidwell 1 10
Daniel Bridge 1 4
George Day 1 4 1
Lucas Wren 10 1
Mathew Wiseman 5
Jonny Jones 4
Jamie Hamilton 2

Barbarians man of tournament - Freddie Kemble-Jones
Special Merit award - Daniel Bridge (first ever try)