Chelmsford 22 Wanstead 24

Playing down the slope in the first half, Chelmsford built up a twenty-two points lead with half an hour played, only to lose the game with the last kick of the game. Credit goes to Wanstead who never stopped believing that they could win and as the game went on their forwards became more and more dominant.

The game started with Chelmsford on the rampage, Josh Cavey, who proved difficult to suppress scored two quick tries, firstly from a long pass, when he then burst twenty metres to score, then from another drive close to the maul from 5 metres. Chelmsford at this stage were well on top and from a five metre lineout, the scrum moved forward with the ball for Will Cooper to score which Joel Young converted. Chelmsford scored their fourth try when Scott James in his characteristic style burst through several tackles to score.

For the first time in the game Wanstead began spending more time in the Chelmsford half and following some good handling by their back, gaps started to appear and the Wanstead centre burst through to score a converted try.

Half time Chelmsford 22 Wanstead 7.

The second half saw Chelmsford under pressure in the set scrum and the Wanstead fly half kicked deep, keeping Chelmsford within their twenty two. Several of the scrums, close to the Chelmsford try line, Chelmsford were penalised for turning the scrum denying Wanstead a ‘push over’. The referee deemed that this had happened on too many occasions and finally awarded a penalty try. Chelmsford with five minutes to go held an eight point lead, and were pressing deep into the Wanstead half. Several handling moves had looked promising before the ball was intercepted by the Wanstead centre eighty metres from the Chelmsford try line. He showed good pace to score under the posts for a converted try. From the restart Chelmsford were penalised, Wanstead took a quick tap which was knocked forward but the Chelmsford team had not retired the ten metres, consequently a penalty was awarded ten metres closer and within kicking range. The penalty was kicked and the final whistle blew.

There is no game next week, Chelmsford visit Stowmarket on the 26th March