Chelmsford 20 Cantabrigians 23
London 2 North East
Chelmsford team took the field with a much changed side from the previous week and produced a better performance, but they will have left the field at the end disappointed that they had lost a hard fought game. Again, the Chelmsford team gave too many penalties away which often occurred when they were in attacking positions.
Cantabs. playing down the slope in the first half took the lead from a catch and drive lineout. They were over 20 metres from the try line but sent the home defence scattering before plummeting over for a unconverted try. Within 10 minutes the visitors were further ahead following another penalty infringement to make it 8- 0. As the half went on Chelmsford began winning more ball pushing the opposition back in the set scrum. Following a number of rucks the ball was spread wide by the backs for Acorn to score an unconverted try in the corner. Chelmsford were having a good spell and it was no surprise when a kickable penalty arose which Arnott converted by way of the inside of the post. Nick Sany, the Chelmsford captain, then went off with a neck injury and lineout possession for the rest of the game was spasmodic But with the last kick of the half Cantabs. were awarded a penalty which they scored to make the half time score 8- 11
At this stage Chelmsford must have thought they had done all the hard work playing up the slope. They began several attacks from good positions but either poor ball retention or penalties held them back. Following a penalty which Cantabs kicked to the corner close to the Chelmsford line, several rucks occurred before the oppositions back row dived over for an unconverted try.
Chelmsford immediately came back and Zain Manan burst through the oppositions back line to put down under the post which Arnott converted. More good work by the forwards allowed Manan to race through again to score an unconverted try to put Chelmsford in the lead for the first time, with ten minutes to go.
Cantabrigians were not finished and scored a converted try from another catch drive following a lineout. There were 3 minutes to go and Chelmsford spent most of that time on the oppositions try line. On three occasions scrums from 5 metres were reset and a penalty try must have been near. Eventually the ball was released but dropped and the referee blew his whistle. Final Score 20 -23
After the game DOR Eddie Gooby said
Today was hard to take the boys gave everything but at crucial times we lack accuracy and discipline.
This is a game we should have won but when you are on a long losing stretch things go against you . We need that little bit of luck at Norwich a scrum penalty try was given against us after one scrum
Today we had three similar scrum's and got nothing . Saying that we had other opportunities to win this game .
Only hard work will change our season and we will be back on the training pitch trying to put things right at Woodford next week
Consistency in select is key I hope from know the players are focused and available every week
In the first three games have already used 35 players and you can not win anything let alone a game of rugby
Chelmsford should have won this game, decision making was poor, along with the number of penalties given away. The Chelmsford centres Tett and Manan looked good with the ball in their hands but did not get enough of it.
Next week Chelmsford visit Woodford kick off 3.00pm