Chelmsford 18 v Chingford 20
(London One North league)

Following last season’s success, when Chelmsford were crowned champions of London Two North East, they kicked off their first season in London North One with a terrific performance that was full of guts and determination against a Chingford side who finished 3rd in the table last season. With 5 minutes to go and trailing by 15 points to 17, Simon Hoult kicked a penalty goal to take Chelmsford into what they thought would be a winning score of 18 – 17, only for victory to be snatched away from them in the dying minutes, when they gave away a penalty in front of the posts to hand the visitors victory by 20 points to 18.
Coach Eddie Gooby was full of praise for his squad after the game, he said: “ I felt a few important decisions didn’t go our way and only the added experience that Chingford had was the difference between two very good teams. To be so close and losing to the final kick off the game is very tough. But knowing this team it’s only going to make us more determined to achieve our aims this season. At times we played some great rugby but we will have to be more patient when we are attacking and go through more phases. This will come with more games and I know we have learnt a lot from today’s game. Next weeks’ game at Luton can’t come quick enough for us. We have to move up to the next level and we will improve every week.”
The main talking point before the game was whether Chelmsford would be able to cope with the increased physical demands of playing at a higher level, coupled with the pace at which the game would be played. Any fears that they had were quickly dispelled when the players showed that they are more than capable of competing at this level by taking the visitors all the way in a fierce and entertaining encounter. Chingford proved to be a hard and physical side, with good support play from their strong running forwards and backs and coupled with a good kicking game they will undoubtedly prove to be a hard team to beat.
In front of a packed crowd at Coronation Park, Chelmsford played up the slope in the first half and the early pressure came from the visitors who were awarded a penalty for off side, resulting in play being taken deep inside the Chelmsford half. A converted try was then scored to take Chingford into an early 7 – 0 lead, even though the ball looked to have been knocked on at the base of the scrum in the lead up to the try. Chelmsford’s Simon Hoult then reduced the arrears to 4 points when he kicked a 45 metre penalty goal after Chingford were penalised for not rolling away at the tackle. Both sides were showing a willingness to run with the ball in perfect playing conditions and both sides were playing the game at a high tempo.
Just before the half hour mark, Chelmsford came away on the blind side of a scrum and a break by Simon Hoult saw full back, Jamie Ash, come into the line at pace and a magnificent run saw him outpace the Chingford cover defence, to score a well taken try, converted by Simon Hoult, to take Chelmsford into a 10 – 7 lead. Unfortunately for Chelmsford on the stroke of half time, Chingford broke from their own half and with an overlap situation, play broke down just short of the Chelmsford line, however, the visitors applied the pressure through the phases and were rewarded with a converted try just wide of the posts to see them take a half time lead of 14 points to 10.
With the slope in their favour, Chelmsford now fancied their chances, especially as they were unbeaten at home since February 2014. Within 5 minutes of the restart, Chelmsford had the chance to kick a penalty, very near to the posts, but instead took the scrummage, but couldn’t capitalise on this. However, after 15 minutes Chingford tried to clear a ball from their own line, but this was charged down by flanker Josh Cavey, and with substitute Seth Robinson on hand, he pounced on the ball for an unconverted try. Shortly afterwards, Chingford regained the lead when Chelmsford were caught offside on their 22 metre line. Both sides had their chances, and some excellent first up tackling from the home side prevented Chingford from adding to their tally. At this stage the result could have gone either way, but with a little more composure to their play, Chingford managed to recover from the Simon Hoult penalty at the end and record a victory to their name.
Chelmsford play their 2nd league game of the season, away to Luton this coming weekend, kick off will be 3pm.