CHELMSFORD remains second bottom after being well beaten 10-23 at home to Enfield Ignatians on Saturday.
It was a crucial game for Chelmsford as Enfield were just ahead of them in the league and a good win by Chelmsford would have taken them away from the relegation zone. Chelmsford started brightly securing a lot of good ball, adhering to a well tried game plan of carrying the ball within the driving forwards and kicking for the corners.
This almost immediately brought dividends, when following a five yard lineout the pack drove forwards and Kevin Prior was at hand to put the ball down. Tom Morrish duly kicked the conversion.
At this stage Chelmsford were totally on top and playing down the slope, but they should have put there territorial advantage into points. Tom Morrish hit a penalty half way through the first half to make it 10-0.
Just before half time Enfield had a man sent to the ‘bin’ for ten minutes because over use of the boot and this should have allowed Chelmsford to use their man advantage and at least kept the game quiet at the beginning of the second half.
Chelmsford started the second half slowly, the line-outs were not as successful and the Enfield scrum started to win more ball. As Enfield spent more time in Chelmsford’s half, they were awarded a series of penalties two of which they kicked in fine style.
With twenty minutes to go there was only one side in it, a total reversal from the first half.
The Enfield scrum half who had a fine game started to control proceedings, making Enfield’s first try and scoring their second following showing good pace and excellent changes of directions.
Chelmsford to make matters worse now had a number of injury problems with three players sustaining injuries which saw them taken from the field of play.
It was of no surprise therefore when the Enfield back row forward charged through a number of missed tackles to seal victory for the away side.
Chelmsford coach Eddie Gooby said: “We were beaten by the better side on the day, we needed to have scored more points playing down the slope in first half, when we were on top and have kept the game a lot closer to the scrum at the beginning of the second.”
The next game on Saturday sees Chelmsford travelling to Saffron Walden, kick off 2.30pm.