Chelmsford travelled to Cambridge on Saturday hoping to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. They came very close when the conversion kick from their try in the last minutes hit the bar and bounced away. Cantabrigians, in fact, deserved their victory, they monopolised the set scrum for large sectors of the game, always ran hard and straight at the defence and had a number of fast and elusive back runners who often caused problems. Chelmsford have some talented players but unless they can get more good clean ball, these talents cannot be exploited.

Chelmsford were under pressure straight from the kick off but found themselves 10-0 ahead after ten minutes, only going into the opponents half on two occasions. Firstly, Max Williams intercepted a Cantabrigians pass ten metres from his own line and galloped the remaining ninety metres to score under the posts and from the resulting restart, following a sixty metre kick from Scott James, a penalty was awarded which Joel Young duly kicked.

Chelmsford for the rest of the half were under pressure, often getting pushed off the ball and giving penalties away from the disruption caused. From one such penalty Cantabs kicked for the corner and from the resulting five metre lineout their centre weaved through to score a converted try. Minutes later with more pressure in the set scrum Cantabs drove over from a five-yard scrum to take the lead. Later in the half Chelmsford did gain more ball and from a penalty Young reduced the lead with a well struck penalty.

Half time Cantabs 14 Chelmsford 13

The second half saw a similar pattern to the first half with Cantabs being in the ascendancy in the forwards, although Chelmsford’s set scrums saw some improvement. Chelmsford’s tackling in defence was very good but getting turn over ball proved elusive. Cantabs increased their lead when considerable pressure close to the line allowed a try by their wing forward for a converted try. Joel Young then a hit a penalty to reduce the score before Cantabs from five yards out pushed the Chelmsford pack for a ‘pushover’ try.

The Chelmsford team, however, are full of spirit and Young hit another penalty before Chelmsford scored in the dying minutes of the game. A lineout close to Cantabs line was well caught and the subsequent drive by the forwards allowed Callum Booth to score, Youngs subsequent conversion hit the bar, missing by a whisker.

Chelmsford did have a number of injuries during the game, however, Chelmsford do have a great deal of talent in depth and a number of players will be available this coming week.

Next week the visitors will be Saffron Walden Kick off 2.30pm