A crucial game in Regional 2 Anglia found Chelmsford looking to avoid a relegation play-off game. The weather was sunny with scattered showers and a brisk wind from top left to bottom right of the pitch. Tomasz Schafernaker would call it a ‘north easterly’. The stage was set for a massive Blueboy performance.

With Captain Cooper winning the toss, the home side played up the slope and against the conditions in the first half. A wide expansive game was on the agenda against a big Harlow pack looking to keep the ball in the hand at every available opportunity. The team started like a bullet train as Harry Moseley set the backs in motion. With the ball going wide and through several phases of play, a break in midfield saw Jack Lavin dance over for the first five points. Chelmsford 7 Harlow 0.

At this early stage of the match, Harlow were trying to take advantage of the conditions, and they rallied with two quick tries. One a drive from their loose forwards and the second a score out wide from their right winger. Chelmsford 7 Harlow 14.

With the attitude, commitment and clear game plan changing in the second half of the season, Chelmsford was not fazed by this. Bayley Eden saw a gap in the break down defence and sprinted over twenty metres for the second try. Lavin was enjoying himself in midfield for Chelmsford’s third as the scoreboard started to tick over. Chelmsford 21 Harlow 14.

The spring sunshine was infectious as the whole team looked to implement the agreed structure. Joel Barker was correctly in the wide channel and found himself in acres of space for the bonus point try and Alex Thompson, having his best game in a Chelmsford shirt, ‘zigged and zagged’ for try five. Moseley with calmness and accuracy slotted four conversions. Half time score - Chelmsford 33 Harlow 14.

With Chelmsford taking the option of going back into the changing room the group knew that they had just played their best half of rugby of the season but needed to put the game to bed and this they did!

Another 10-minute purple patch saw Thompson dot down for try six in the corner with an acrobatic forward roll to finish and Lavin scored his hat trick try by breaking through in midfield, throwing an outrageous dummy to shake off the defender and gliding over for the try. The half time Haribo had done their trick! Chelmsford 47 Harlow 14.

Energy levels finally dropped and in the final quarter some scrappy play and yellow cards saw Harlow score three tries up the slope. The home support were biting their nails and looking at their watches. Why did they need to worry?!

In the final minutes Nick Hankin ran a sharpe line to break the tiring Harlow defence. A much deserved try for one of our own! Conversion made by Colonel Moseley. Final score Chelmsford 54 Harlow 31

Squad – Harry Sturge, Joel Barker, Jamie Calver, Frank Watkinson, Frankie Hart, Bayley Eden, Ollie Hitchcock, Will Cooper (C), Ben Bayley, Harry Moseley, Alex Thompson, Jack Lavin, Nick Hankin, Joe Styrin, Anup Ale, Ashley Browne, Matt Hughes, Noah Pyne