Chelmsford playing their first game of the new year against the second place team in the league and were eventually well beaten. The game was played in cold and very wet conditions not suited to the their running and handling style. Chelmsford had a much changed team from their previous game but were in the lead at half time. The main problem Chelmsford had throughout the game was the massive number of penalties which they conceded, games can not be won if the referee deems that an offense has taken place on 20 occasions during the game. Woodford only conceded 6.

After a series of early penalties, Chelmsford found themselves 10 nil down after fifteen minutes, firstly from a well worked Woodford lineout, and then conceded when they were pushed off their own ball in the scrum. The next twenty minutes of the first half produced Chelmsford’s best rugby of the game, when they won some controlled ball, from a rare penalty a quick tap and go saw Josh Smith go over and some good handling released Matt Barker to score.

Half time; Woodford 10 Chelmsford 12.

Woodford dominated the second half scoring a further four tries. Some of these tries were very well constructed, especially a cross field kick which was taken at full speed by their talented winger. Other tries came about following the ever increasing number of penalties Chelmsford gave away. When Chelmsford did win the ball the distribution was far to slow and as the game progressed they looked a disjointed outfit.

This defeat saw Chelmsford slip to the fifth position in the league, but they will be looking forward to getting back to winning ways.

Next week they take on West Norfolk at home kick off 2.00pm