A double header for the Colts this weekend and half of the squad headed to Eton Manor for the first Division 1 league game of the season. With just 17 players on the team sheet, Manor already had an advantage both in terms of the home draw and the extra numbers. That said Chelmsford were raring to get going.

Manor were as always, quick out the blocks and in first 2 minutes, a few missed tackles and some good carries from the Manor boys resulted in an early try. Despite touching down in front of the posts they were unable to convert. Play resumed but once again, a couple of missed opportunities to intercept and Manor came from their own try line to touch down in the centre of the posts. Successfully converted on this occassion and Chelmsford found themselves 12-0 down after just 5 minutes.

Straight off the back of Manor's 2nd try, CRFC won a line out, which was played across the pitch for a great try but a difficult conversion on the far touch line. Despite the wind, this was successfully converted. 12-7 after 8 minutes of play and Chelmsford finally wake up. It was really unlucky for Chelmsford to concede again, this time a penalty try for what was perceived by the ref to be a tackle off the ball. The lads didn’t deserve to be 19 points against, in first 10 minutes. Chelmsford made full use of a knock on, won the scrum and once again some awesome team work and then some weaving from our scrum half to finish off a great try. The boys were looking so strong now. Tackling galore!!

Manor came close to scoring again, but having smashed through three Chelmsford players, the Manor lad was held up on the line. Luck was against Chelmsford yet again, and they went one down before half time. A great "tackle" by the Chelmsford First Aider just before half time, taking down a Manor player whilst dealing with an injured lad. What an end to a great first half - Manor 19 / CRFC 12

The 2nd half started slightly more reserved, with 10 minutes passing before CRFC took the first points, with a great try from the full back, slightly assisted by a defender dragging him over the touch line. A couple of soft tries conceded by Chelmsford, after some missed tackles and the lack of options on the bench meant that Chelmsford were looking tired after an awesome 60 minutes of rugby. One final amazing team effort from Chelmsford saw our last try, against the run of play, touched down under the post, successfully converted by the full back. Both sides look like they could get one more, but handling errors cost both sides and the score remained the same until the final whistle

Whilst the final score wasn’t what we had hoped - The boys demonstrated great team work, resilience and determination till the very end. Final score Eton Manor 31 / CRFC 24