This top of the table game could have gone either way. Certainly. Chelmsford had the best of the first half and came close in the final minutes to score when they encamped on the Harlow try line.

The first half had both sets of forwards running at each other with great defence shown from both sides. On occasions the ball was slow coming back from rucks and mauls, which made defence easier for Harlow and on a number of occasions when Chelmsford were in good attacking positions the ball was dropped or passes poorly executed. Both tries were scored in the first half, Chelmsford took the lead following a lineout ten metres from the Harlow line when a ball was knocked back towards the try Harlow try line, the defence failed to fall on the ball and Marc Pluck touched down for an unconverted try. Harlow came back into the game, when Chelmsford were on the attack but the ball was mishandled in the centre, gathered by the Harlow backs who ran forty metres before being pulled down a few metres from the line. Two driving runs from the Harlow back row, eventually, saw their No 8 go over between the posts for a converted try.

Half Time Harlow 7 Chelmsford 5

The second half continued to see a battle of the defences. Chelmsford had the edge in the scrums and Harlow had slightly the better of the lineouts especially after Marcus Pottinger had to leave the field through injury. At the beginning of the half Harlow began to encamp in the Chelmsford half of the pitch, this was not helped by a number the number of penalties being given away. From one of these penalties, Harlow increased their lead when their fly half put over a kick from 40 metres. Chelmsford. Chelmsford continued to battle to regain the lead but the Harlow defence was resolute even though Chelmsford spent the last five minutes of the game within a few metres of the Harlow try line.
Chelmsford will probably regret not getting the ball out wider and quicker in the first half when they had more ball but handling and speed of pass let them down on a number of occasions. Their defence under pressure, however, was excellent. This result leaves Harlow and Chelmsford on equal number of points on the top of the table and there is certainly much to play for in the games to come.

Kev Blackmore, Director of Rugby said this of the loss "I couldnt be prouder of the boys, Harlow are physically huge and we defended brilliantly for long periods this afternoon. Time and again the lads threw themselves under the bus for the team. The work ethic couldn't be faulted."

"Unfortunately when we had the ball we just didn't really connect as a 15 and consequently couldn't execute any scoring opportunities. Harlow were deserved winners today, hats off to them. Theres alot of Rugby to be played and the top of the league is as tight as it could be so the run in is going to be interesting to say the least!"

Next week will see Chelmsford entertain Old Cooperians at Coronation kick off 2pm