LONDON 2 NORTH EAST: Woodford 6 Chelmsford 24

CHELMSFORD recorded a comprehensive 24-6 victory to secure a bonus point against Woodford.

After three minutes the visitors were penalised for being offside, but Woodford’s penalty kick was wide of the mark.

However, the hosts did go ahead shortly after, this time being successful with their penalty.

Simon Hoult missed a penalty for Chelmsford and following three more for the visitors, Chelmsford then looked to have the ball over the line for what looked like a try, only for the referee to be unsighted, so he awarded a five-metre scrum.

Following concerted pressure on the Woodford line, a line-out was awarded and hooker Adam Ferrier dived over the line for Chelmsford’s first try, which Hoult duly converted.

Woodford came back strongly but could not breach the Chelmsford defence which stood firm throughout the game and was a feature of their play.

Chelmsford full-back Dan Trayler was then late tackled by the Woodford scrum-half who was given ten minutes in the sin-bin. Trayler was temporarily replaced by Jake Jarvis.

With Woodford being down to 14 men, the home side were penalised for hands in the ruck, but Chelmsford chose a touch kick to the corner when on hindsight a further three points may have been more beneficial.

Woodford managed to break back into Chelmsford’s half and on the stroke of half-time they were awarded a penalty when Chelmsford were caught offside and they reduced the appears to a point.

After the interval, Chelmsford scored a try when Hoult found left wing Seb Hill and he scored in the corner.

Hoult had a chance to increase the lead after 15 minutes when Woodford were penalised for hands in the ruck, but his kick hit the post.

Woodford did have their chances and were always likely to come back, but both their their backs and forwards concentrated too much on the crash ball.

The visitors then put distance between themselves and the home side when Ben Bayley ran round the blindside, drew his man and slipped the ball to centre Rhys Mason, who dummied his way over the line to score in the corner, with the try being converted by Hoult.

Even allowing for the fact that flanker Jamie Hines was yellow carded near the end Chelmsford still finished the stronger side and, as Seb Hill sprinted for the line, with full-back Hoult in support, Chelmsford duly scored their fourth try.