CS Rugby 1863 68 Chelmsford 20
(London North 1)

With 7 front line players missing from their squad, through unavailability, this was always going to be challenge for a full strength Chelmsford side, especially in the early stages of the season, where Chelmsford need to adjust to the pace and physical nature of playing rugby at a higher level. To make matters worse, Chelmsford suffered injuries to Alex Ellis, Seth Robinson, Ben Bayley and Adam Cunnah, which disrupted the shape of the side.

Sadly for them they were on the wrong end of a drubbing, conceding 9 tries and suffering their biggest league defeat for a number of years. It was difficult to pick out any positives from a game like this, as the core skills were totally lacking. The first up tacking was non existent, the passing with ball in hand was poor, wrong options were taken and what must be worrying for Coach Eddie Gooby, was that the fitness levels of some of the players were not up to the required standard.

Chelmsford were first on the score board when Zane Manan, playing his first game of the season, put Chelmsford ahead with a well taken penalty straight from the kick off, when CS Rugby were penalised for crossing, however, minutes later the home side took the lead when poor defence along the wing allowed them to score a converted try to take them into a 7 – 3 lead. Chelmsford then reduced the arrears to 7 – 6 through another penalty from Zane Manan, when CS Rugby were penalised for driving in at the scrum.

Two further penalties against Chelmsford after 15 minutes and 20 minutes saw the home side increase their lead to 13 – 6 and shortly after that poor defensive play saw CS Rugby score a try by the post and with the successful conversion, they now lead by 20 – 6. The home side began to start winning the set pieces and the breakdown ball and after 30 minutes CS Rugby took full advantage of some poor tackling, to score an unconverted try, taking them into a 25 – lead. It wasn’t till after this try that Chelmsford managed to secure some meaningful possession and they were unlucky from a kick ahead, when the home side’s winger deliberately knocked the ball over the dead ball line, which should have seen Chelmsford awarded a penalty try, but the referee just awarded a penalty kick, which was missed. On the stroke of half time, the home side effectively sealed the game when they scored an unconverted try, when once again Chelmsford dropped off the tackles to take them into a 30 – 6 lead.

Within 5 minutes of the restart for the 2nd half, Chelmsford scored a great individual try through left wing, Jack Acorn, who beat several would be defenders to score a great try, which was converted by Zane Manan to reduce the deficit to 30 – 13. CS Rugby then converted a penalty, when Chelmsford were caught offside and increased their lead to 33 – 13. Any hopes of securing anything from this game, were effectively over, when the home side scored their 5th try, following pressure on the Chelmsford line, making the score 40 - 13. Not to be outdone, however, full back Oli Wright managed to wriggle through the CS Rugby defence for a well taken try, after the home side lost possession from the kick off. With the successful conversion, CS Rugby now led 40 – 20.

The home side were well on top in the last 15 minutes of the game and the Chelmsford heads dropped, and with further errors being made either with ball in hand or poor cover defence, the home side added a further 4 tries, all of which were converted, to take the final score to 68 – 20.

Coach Eddie Gooby said after the game” It’s not often that I say I am disappointed with our performances because I know our players give everything they have for our club, however, today I think we let ourselves down with the basics, particularly ball retention and first up tackling. Today’s squad had an opportunity to make a claim for a first team shirt whilst we had a lot of players missing. If everyone was honest with themselves we were way off the pace and got punished. Today reminded me so much of last year’s game at Diss, when we had a very young squad out who were learning how to play. I expect us to bounce back this coming weekend and like last year learn how to grow up and move forward. I also need to look at our preparation as the journey last weekend was all wrong and this didn’t help with our performance on the pitch. What I will say, is that it will be a totally different team when CS Rugby come to play the return fixture at Chelmsford. I also need to have a look this week, with a view to freshening things up, as it is important to get our first home win in this league to give us the confidence for our remaining fixtures.”
This coming weekend sees Chelmsford take on Harrow at home, with the kick off being 2pm.