Norwich 20 Chelmsford 54
(London 2 North East League)

This was a game that should have tested Chelmsford’s resolve to the full, but despite missing some key personnel, especially in the 2nd row, Chelmsford carried on from the previous week and put in a tremendous all round team performance and turn on the style to comprehensively outplay their hosts, and in doing so scored 8 tries, 7 of which were converted by fly half, Simon Hoult. A pleasing feature for coach Eddie Gooby was that out of the day’s match squad of 18 players, three quarters of the squad are from local schools, which enforces the youth policy at the club.

He said after the game: “This was the best team performance so far this season, over the past few weeks the forwards have been outstanding. Today the backs took centre stage with great ball skills, hard running lines and excellent support play. Once again I had to make several changes from last week’s game and to a man everyone stepped up. It’s funny looking back on the Diss game, after our heavy defeat, this has brought the boys together, and week by week the determination to achieve has grown. We know we have a tough run of games coming up but we will enjoy the challenge and see where it takes us. The support we had yesterday was fantastic and the boys responded in playing some great free flowing rugby.”

The win meant Chelmsford retain their two point lead over Campion who also won at the weekend. Chelmsford brought 2nd team skipper Alex Ellis into the 2nd row and youngster Sid Wright into the back row, with debutant, Sam Bensusan on the bench. They also welcomed back hooker, Seth Robinson, who was injured back in October, and he was on the subs bench.

Both sides started brightly, with Chelmsford having the advantage of the breeze and Norwich having the sun in the faces. The opening score was made by Chelmsford after 10 minutes of play, when flanker, Josh Cavey, who had a storming game, made a break, and slipped the ball to wing, Tristan Olive. He was tackled short of the line and with the ball being recycled, Cavey went over himself for the try, which was converted by Simon Hoult to take Chelmsford into an early 7 – 0 lead. At this point, 2nd row, Nick Crouch, who had just returned to the side, following a hamstring injury, suffered a recurrence of this and he was replaced by Seth Robinson. This meant that Josh Cavey went into the 2nd row, with Robinson playing on the flank.

Shortly afterwards Chelmsford were caught napping, when Norwich applied pressure in the Chelmsford 22, and from a grubber kick, a favourable bounce enabled them to drop on the ball and score an unconverted try to reduce the arrears to 7 - 5. Chelmsford then increased their lead, when skipper Paul Redford, who was a dominant force throughout the game, broke from the base of the scrum. He slipped the ball to centre, Adam Cunnah, who had a clear run to the line for another converted try taking Chelmsford into a 14 – 5 lead. Norwich had a chance to reduce the arrears, but missed a penalty opportunity from the 22 metre line. Chelmsford were then penalised and the Norwich fly half drilled the ball into the Chelmsford 22. The visitors knew they would struggle with any meaningful possession from the line outs and with the home side securing possession from the throw in, they scored a try from a catch and drive to reduce the lead to 4 points.

Chelmsford managed to score a further try 8 minutes from half time, when from a line out the ball was fed out to Simon Hoult, and with full back Jamie Ash coming into the line, he was able to put wing, Jack Acorn, over for a try, converted once again by Simon Hoult to take Chelmsford into a half time lead of 21 – 10. Centre Adam Cunnah was replaced at the interval by debutant, Sam Bensusan. Despite a handling error from the kick off by Chelmsford, they managed to withstand the pressure from the home side and after 8 minutes, they scored the crucial 4th try through Josh Cavey and with Simon Hoult converting, they took a match winning lead of 28 – 10 and in the process, secured a bonus point. The visitors were now well on top and they scored two further tries in the space of four minutes, the first one from Jamie Morrish and the 2nd one from Jamie Ash, following a kick ahead from Simon Hoult. Both were converted by Hoult to take Chelmsford into an unassailable lead of 42 – 10.

Norwich restored their pride a few minutes later when from a line out inside Chelmsford’s 22 metre area, the ball rebounded back into the hands of a Norwich player and an unconverted try was scored in the corner to make the score 42 – 15. Minutes later, Simon Hoult made a break and with Jamie Ash being on hand he slipped the ball to substitute, Sam Bensusan who scored a try on his debut to make the score 47 – 15. Norwich replied with a try from another catch and drive from a line out, and to put the icing on the cake, wing, Jack Acorn went over for a converted try to bring the final score to 54 – 20 in Chelmsford’s favour.

Chelmsford have no game this coming weekend, and then face 2nd placed, Campion, at home on 31st January, in what could prove to be a defining game for both sides in this exciting league campaign.