Chelmsford recorded what was probably one of their finest league victories since the inception of league rugby back in season 1986 – 87 to secure their status in London League 1 North for a further year at the first attempt. Two superb second half tries from wing, Jamie Ash, plus 22 points from Simon Hoult, including 17 from the boot and 32 second half points were enough to condemn former National League 2 side, Barking, to playing in London 2 North East for next season.

After disastrous results from the previous two games with Brentwood and Letchworth, when Chelmsford shipped 128 points, a much improved defensive performance, plus an all round team effort, which was full of spirit, guts, desire, determination and flair, saw them through to the delight of a packed crowd at Coronation Park. The game was never going to be a classic, because there was so much at stake for both sides, but Chelmsford’s defence held firm for most of the game and they played the more attractive rugby and made the most of the chances that came their way and ultimately deserved to take the spoils.

Chelmsford played up the slope in the first half and against the wind, but the tone of the game was set early on when Chelmsford took the first scrum of the game against the head, and then won a penalty when Barking were caught offside after just 5 minutes. Simon Hoult slotted over the kick to give Chelmsford a 3 – 0 lead. Territorially, Barking dominated the first 20 minutes of the game keeping Chelmsford penned in to their own half, but for all their pressure, they lacked the necessary pace out wide and couldn’t manage to put a score together and some strong Chelmsford tackling kept them at bay. Chelmsford were beginning to dominate the set scrums and from one of these they increased their lead with a well worked try from centre Jamie Morrish. He followed up a high up and under, which fortunately for him took a fortuitous bounce and he seized his opportunity to sprint to the line and score near the posts and with Simon Hoult converting, the score was now 10 – 0 to the home side.

Unfortunately for Chelmsford, fly half, Zane Mannan, was yellow carded for holding on in the tackle, which meant that Chelmsford had to play the rest of the half with 14 men. Barking then opened their account when Chelmsford were caught offside on their 22 metre line and reduced the arrears to 10 – 3. Shortly after this there was a fracas involving both sets of forwards, and Chelmsford were deemed to have thrown a punch, so they were penalised, which meant that Barking kicked to touch and from the line out a successful catch and drive saw them score a converted try to go in at the interval, level at 10 points each.

The 2nd half saw Chelmsford play down the slope and with the wind. Sadly for the visitors they gave away an early penalty for holding on which Simon Hoult converted to take Chelmsford back into a 13 – 10 lead. What followed was perhaps the game change as far as Chelmsford were concerned, straight from the kick off, skipper Paul Redford caught the ball, he passed the ball out to centre Adam Cunnah, who in turn slipped the ball to Jamie Morrish and he then put wing Jamie Ash in the clear for him to sprint down the touchline for what was undoubtedly one of Chelmsford’s best tries of the season. Simon Hoult converted to increase the lead to 20 – 13 and from here Chelmsford never looked back. Chelmsford did allow Barking to score a try after they were penalised for being offside, and from the line out they worked the phases and managed to score an unconverted try just wide of the posts, but for them the conversion was missed and their chance to remain in the game had disappeared.

A further penalty from Simon Hoult after 15 minutes increased Chelmsford’s lead to 23 – 15 and once again from the lick off, Barking were dealt the killer blow when wing Jamie Ash outsprinted the cover defence to score another great try in the corner, which Simon Hoult converted to take Chelmsford into a match winning lead of 30 – 15. On the 30 minute mark Chelmsford recorded their 4th and bonus point try with a good effort from Simon Hoult, following a scrum near to the Barking line. This meant that Chelmsford now led by 35 – 15, however, Barking did make some yardage up the blindside of the pitch and eventually scored a try in injury time which was awarded by the referee, even though he failed to spot a knock on in the play leading up to it. The score was now 35 – 22, but not to be outdone, Chelmsford in the last few minutes of what proved to be a 51 minute 2nd half put pressure on the Barking line and following a scrum, fly half Zane Mannan jinked his way over the line for the home side’s 5th try and with the successful conversion, Chelmsford ran out worthy winners by 42 – 22 in what has been a tremendously competitive and hugely exciting season for the club.

Chelmsford’s Director of Rugby, Eddie Gooby, was in a jubilant mood after the game, he said: “This was an unbelievable day for the club and credit to everyone who came out in force today to support us, from the minis, youth, senior players and our regular supporters. I know how much it means to the players. The game itself and the performance from the players today contained everything that I wanted from them, understandably they were under a lot of pressure, but they all coped fantastically well to play some outstanding attacking rugby. The whole team stood up today in defence and to a man got into Barking and put pressure on them for the full 80 minutes. Credit to them all, they delivered what they had promised to do to myself and the coaches. Once again the basis of the performance was the scrum and it allowed us to control large parts of the game. This season we have grown as a team, both individually and collectively and we have something special to build on. It's nice to say we have another season in London 1.”

This coming weekend sees Chelmsford play their final league game of the season against Chingford at Lee Valley Playing Fields, kick off is at 3pm.